Intrauterine insemination and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in cycles before GIFT

We have combined intrauterine insemination (IUI) and controlledovarian hyperstimulation (COH), for the treatment of infertilitydue to different aetiologies, prior to performing GUT. To date,we have treated 186 patients over a total of 489 cycles. Themean age of the patients was 34.1 ± 4 years and the meanduration of infertility was 4.8 ± 2.8 years. Folliculardevelopment was induced with human menopausal gonatrophin (HMG).Patients were monitored using serum oestradiol determinationsand ovarian ultrasound. Two intrauterine inseminations wereperformed 12 and 36 h after HCG injection. Semen samples wereprepared utilizing one of two techniques, swim-up or Percollgradient. A total of 33 pregnancies have occurred, the grosspregnancy rate being 17.7% per patient and 6.7% per cycle. Thecumulative pregnancy rate was 30%. Thirty-one pregnancies (94%)occurred within the first four cycles of treatment. During thesame period of time, the pregnancy rate per cycle in patientstreated with gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) was 32.9%.Our data suggest that IUI combined with COH can result in pregnancyin a significant proportion of patients, but that the efficiencyper cycle of the technique is significantly lower than GIFT.     

Intrauterine insemination: critical analysis of a therapeutic procedure.

Donor intrauterine insemination with washed spermatozoa (fresh semen) was performed in 36 women (63 cycles) whose husbands had azoospermia due to primary or secondary testicular failure. Simultaneously a control group of 76 couples (156 cycles) with proven fertility, who had recently discontinued mechanical non-hormonal contraception, were encouraged to have sexual intercourse during the fertile period. The age of the women was similar in both groups and the timing criteria were also similar. The pregnancy rate per woman was 50% in the donor insemination group and 47.4% in the control group (difference not significant). The pregnancy rate per cycle was 28.6% in the artificial insemination group and 23.1% in the control, natural insemination group (difference not significant). The number of artificial or natural insemination cycles required to achieve pregnancy was similar in the study and control groups. This study suggests that when the inseminating spermatozoa and female partner are normal, as occurs in the donor insemination group, intrauterine insemination is as efficient as natural insemination in achieving pregnancy but is not more successful.     

Intrauterine insemination treatment in subfertility: an analysis of factors affecting outcome

A total of 811 intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles in which clomiphene citrate/human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) was used for ovarian stimulation were analysed retrospectively to identify prognostic factors regarding treatment outcome. The overall pregnancy rate was 12.6% per cycle, the multiple pregnancy rate 13.7%, and the miscarriage rate 23.5%. Logistic regression analysis revealed five predictive variables as regards pregnancy: number of the treatment cycle (P = 0.009), duration of infertility (P = 0.017), age (P = 0.028), number of follicles (P = 0.031) and infertility aetiology (P = 0.045). The odds ratios for age < 40 years, unexplained infertility aetiology (versus endometriosis) and duration of infertility < or = 6 years were 3.24, 2.79 and 2.33, respectively. A multifollicular ovarian response to clomiphene citrate/HMG resulted in better treatment success than a monofollicular response, and 97% of the pregnancies were obtained in the first four treatment cycles. The results indicate that clomiphene citrate/HMG/IUI is a useful and cost-effective treatment option in women < 40 years of age with infertility duration < or = 6 years, who do not suffer from endometriosis.     

Intrauterine insemination: evaluation of the results according to the woman's age, sperm quality, total sperm count per insemination and life table analysis

We report on 332 infertile couples who underwent 1115 cyclesof intrauterine insemination (IUI) with washed husband's semen.The indication for IUI was an abnormal post-coital test dueto either a male or cervical infertility factor. The mean numberof IUI cycles per patient was 3.4, the overall pregnancy rate18, 7%, and the pregnancy rate per cycle 5.6%. The cumulativepregnancy rate calculated by life table analysis showed that16.0% of pregnancies occurred in the first three treatment cycles,while the cumulative pregnancy rate was 26.9% by the sixth cycle.The outcome of the therapy was adversely affected if the woman'sage was >39 years and/or total motile sperm count per inseminationwas <1X106. No pregnancy occurred in women older than 44years or in cases with a total motile sperm count before semenpreparation of <1X106.     

The value of intrauterine insemination with washed husband's sperm in the treatment of infertility

Twenty-nine infertile couples were treated by intrauterine insemination(IUI)of washed sperm from a sub-fertile husband (n = 16), incases of gynaecological (n = 3), combined (n = 4) or idiopathic(n = 6) infertility; 116 treatment cycles redted in 11 ongoingpregnancies. Between 0.25 and 0.45 ml of capacitation medium,containing at least 500 000 pretreated spermatozoa, were inseminated.Pretreatment of first split fractions was performed by centrifugationand swimming up of motile spermatozoa. The pregnancy per cycleindex (P/C) for IUI was 9.5% for a total of 37.9% of all couplestreated achieving pregnancy. These results suggest a substantialbenefit compared with a calculated six months' cumulative pregnancyrate of 4.2% independent of treatment, for this infertile population.The value of IUI in selected cam of infertility seems obviousbut needs further investigation.     

Evaluation of intrauterine insemination with washed spermatozoa from the husband in the treatment of infertility.

In this study, we examined the efficacy of intrauterine insemination with washed spermatozoa from the husband (AIH/IUI) in the treatment of infertility. A total of 127 treatment cycles were completed (1.95 cycles per patient). The indications for AIH/IUI were male subfertility (group I: 53 couples), cervical factor (group II: four couples), male and cervical factor (group III: six couples) and unexplained infertility (group IV: two couples). Sperm washing caused a reduction of the sperm concentration from 52 x 10(6)/ml to 44 x 10(6)/ml (P less than 0.08) and motility from 49% to 45% (P less than 0.03). Twelve pregnancies were achieved (18.5% per couple and 9.5% per cycle): eight pregnancies in group I (15.1%), one in group II (25%) and three in group III (50%). Of the 12 pregnancies, eight occurred in the first insemination cycle, three in the second and one in the third (1.4 cycles/pregnancy). Sperm motility was significantly higher in the pregnant than in the non-pregnant group (65.5% versus 46.4%, respectively; P less than 0.004), whereas no significant difference was observed in the sperm concentration between these two groups (39 x 10(6)/ml and 54 x 10(6)/ml, respectively). In conclusion, AIH/IUI is a technically easy and non-invasive procedure which offers a satisfactory pregnancy rate in selected couples with male subfertility and/or cervical factor infertility.     

Intrauterine insemination and comparison of two methods of sperm preparation

In a study of intrauterine inseminations (IUI) after clomiphene stimulation, a randomized comparison was made between a new method of sperm preparation, self migration in sodium hyaluronate (SH), and a traditional method, centrifugation and swim up (CS). After two IUI cycles with either SH or CS, the sperm preparation method was swapped and the patients received another two IUI cycles. Interjacent cycles of natural intercourse after clomiphene treatment served as the control. The SH method resulted in a significantly higher percentage recovery of progressive motile spermatozoa than the CS method, 17.7% versus 8.6% (P less than 0.01). The sperm samples were prepared by SH in 68 cycles and by CS in 57 cycles, resulting in six and five pregnancies, respectively. Pregnancies were obtained in 11 of 125 IUI cycles (8.8%) and in 3 of 124 control cycles (2.4%) (P less than 0.05). The pregnancy rate following IUI was highest in the patients with cervical factor (35%) and asthenozoospermia (23%), while none became pregnant in the group with oligozoospermia. In the unexplained infertility group, no difference between the pregnancy rates in IUI cycles and control cycles was seen. SH is a simple and rapid method of sperm preparation and it appears to give a high recovery of motile spermatozoa and a number of pregnancies which is comparable to that of CS. Treatment with IUI in cycles with a simple stimulation protocol seems to be valuable in cases involving either a cervical factor or asthenozoospermia.     

Randomized comparison of ovulation induction with and without intrauterine insemination in the treatment of unexplained infertility

The aim of this prospective randomized controlled study wasto determine the possible role of ovulation induction with intrauterineinsemination (IUI) in the treatment of unexplained infertility.A total of 100 patients were randomized to receive ovulationinduction with or without IUI. All patients were treated withlong-course gonadotrophinreleasing hormone analogue (GnRHa),starting in the luteal phase, and exogenous follicle stimulatinghormone (FSH) to induce follicular growth. Ovulation was inducedusing human chorionic gonadotrophin and timed intercourse (TI)was advised 24–48 h later or IUI was effected 36—48h later. Both the cycle fecundities (21.8 and 8.5%) and thecumulative ongoing pregnancy rates after three cycles (42 and20%) were significantly higher (P < 0.03) in the IUI groupthan in the TI group respectively. This is a clear indicationthat ovulation induction with IUI is an effective treatmentmethod for unexplained infertility, but ovulation inductionwith TI has a negligible impact in this large group of patients.     

Pregnancies from Fallopian replacement of immature eggs with delayed intrauterine insemination

Gamete intrafallopian transfer requires that a woman shouldnot only have patent tubes but should also have had mature eggscollected for replacement. Eggs must be collected as close toovulation as possible, to give them a good chance of fertilizingupon replacing them directly into the tubes with the spermatozoa.Preliminary results from the three patients who received Fallopianreplacement of immature eggs followed by delayed intrauterineinsemination indicate that maturation of eggs can occur in vivoin the Fallopian tubes. Intrauterine insemination at a latertime when the eggs were judged to be mature has given rise totwo pregnancies from the three patients with whom this procedurewas adopted     

Intrauterine insemination with spermatozoa recovered from the aspirate of artificial spermatocoele

Congenital absence of both vas deferens accounts for approximately 10% of cases of obstructive azoospermia. The purpose of the present study was to develop a treatment protocol for a group of azoospermic patients using surgical implantation of alloplastic spermatocoele to enable repeated sperm cell aspiration. Nine patients with congenital absence of both vas deferens, two with obstructed and one with destroyed vas, underwent surgery for the implantation of an alloplastic spermatocoele. In 10 of the 12 patients, vital spermatozoa were recovered from the aspirate and used for intrauterine insemination of their female partners with induced ovulation, some of whom then conceived.     

Multiple follicular recruitment and intrauterine insemination outcomes compared by age and diagnosis.

We studied the outcome of our intrauterine insemination (IUI) programme, evaluating female age and diagnosis. One-hundred-and-twenty-six patients less than 36 years of age (mean 30.91 +/- 3.02 years) completed 306 cycles of multiple follicular recruitment (MFR) and timed IUI; 64 patients greater than or equal to 36 years of age (mean 38.36 +/- 2.08 years) completed 166 cycles (total 190 patients, 472 cycles). The male partners' semen was prepared for IUI with wash and swim-up techniques. Diagnostic groups were: male factor (n = 26), idiopathic (n = 33), endometriosis (n = 19), ovulatory disorder (n = 7), other (n = 19) and combined factors (n = 86). Pregnancy rates (% per couple, % per cycle) [overall (31.58, 12.7)] [less than 36 years (38.10, 15.69)] [greater than 36 years (18.75, 7.23)] were greater in the less than 36 years group (P less than 0.025). The probability of conception after three treatment cycles was 0.402 overall, 0.481 for age less than 36 years and 0.252 for age greater than or equal to 36 years. The probability of conception for male factor and idiopathic infertility patients was 0.469 and 0.411 respectively. An age effect was found on pregnancy rates in the idiopathic group only. In conclusion, MFR + IUI is a valuable treatment especially for male factor patients and patients less than 36 years old, with idiopathic infertility.     

Endometrial polyps and their implication in the pregnancy rates of patients undergoing intrauterine insemination: a prospective, randomized study

BACKGROUND: It was our intention to determine whether hysteroscopic polypectomy before intrauterine insemination (IUI) achieved better pregnancy outcomes than no intervention. METHODS: A total of 215 infertile women from the infertility unit of a university tertiary hospital with ultrasonographically diagnosed endometrial polyps (EP) undergoing IUI were randomly allocated to one of two pretreatment groups using an opaque envelope technique with assignment determined by a random number table. Hysteroscopic polypectomy was performed in the study group. Diagnostic hysteroscopy and polyp biopsy was performed in the control group. RESULTS: Total pregnancy rates and time for success in both groups after four IUI cycles were compared by means of contingency tables and life-table analysis. A total of 93 pregnancies occurred, 64 in the study group and 29 in the control group. Women in the study group had a better possibility of becoming pregnant after polypectomy, with a relative risk of 2.1 (95% confidence interval 1.5-2.9). Pregnancies in the study group were obtained before the first IUI in 65% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that hysteroscopic polypectomy before IUI is an effective measure.     

腹腔镜联合人工授精治疗子宫内膜异位症不孕的临床观察

目的探讨子宫内膜异位症（EMs）不孕患者腹腔镜术后行夫精人工授精妊娠率的影响因素。方法回顾性分析164例腹腔镜术后的EMs不孕患者进行的318个人工授精周期的临床资料。以年龄、不孕年限、腹腔镜术后时间、用药情况、周期数、是否促排卵、r-AFS分期、IUI时机分别进行妊娠率的比较。结果 EMs不孕患者术后人工授精的周期妊娠率为13.21%。年龄≤35岁的周期妊娠率高于35岁以上者（χ2=6.687,P〈0.05）,不孕年限≤5年的妊娠率高于5年以上者（χ2=5.430,P〈0.05）,腹腔镜术后1年内行人工授精的妊娠率高于1年以上者（χ2=6.005,P〈0.05）,Ⅰ～Ⅱ期患者的妊娠率高于Ⅲ～Ⅳ期患者（χ2=8.264,P〈0.05）,加用促排卵治疗的妊娠率高于自然周期者（χ2=4.569,P〈0.05）,3周期内人工授精的妊娠率高于3周期以上者（χ2=4.031,P〈0.05）,双次IUI者妊娠率高于单次者（χ2=4.371,P〈0.05）,差异均有统计学意义。而术后是否使用GnRH-a则与妊娠率无关。结论 EMs不孕患者腹腔镜术后行人工授精治疗的最佳时间是术后1年内3周期内有较高的妊娠率,建议同时加用促排卵治疗。     

The role of laparoscopy in intrauterine insemination: a prospective randomized reallocation study

BACKGROUND: We questioned whether a laparoscopy should be performed after a normal hysterosalpingography before starting intrauterine inseminations (IUI) in order to detect further pelvic pathology and whether a postponed procedure after six unsuccessful cycles of IUI yields a higher number of abnormal findings. METHODS: In a randomized controlled trial, the accuracy of a standard laparoscopy prior to IUI was compared with a laparoscopy performed after six unsuccessful cycles of IUI. The major end-point was the number of diagnostic laparoscopies revealing pelvic pathology with consequence for further treatment such as laparoscopic surgical intervention, IVF or secondary surgery. Patients were couples with medical grounds for IUI such as idiopathic subfertility, mild male infertility and cervical hostility. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients were randomized into the diagnostic laparoscopy first (DLSF) group and the same number was randomized into the IUI first (IUIF) group. The laparoscopy was performed on 64 patients in the DLSF group, 10 patients withdrew their consent from participation and three patients (3%) became pregnant prior to laparoscopy. In the IUIF group, 23 patients remained for laparoscopy because pregnancy did not occur after six cycles of IUI. From the original 77 randomized patients, 38 patients became pregnant and 16 patients dropped out. Abnormal findings during laparoscopy with therapeutic consequences were the same in both groups: in the DLSF group, 31 cases (48%) versus 13 cases (56%) in the IUIF group, P = 0.63; odds ratio (OR) = 1.4; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.5-3.6. The ongoing pregnancy rate in the DLSF group was 34 out of 77 patients (44%) versus 38 out of 77 patients (49%) in the IUIF group (P = 0.63; OR = 1.2; 95% CI: 0.7-2.3). CONCLUSIONS:Laparoscopy performed after six cycles of unsuccessful IUI did not detect more abnormalities with clinical consequences compared with those performed prior to IUI treatment. Our data suggest that the impact of the detection and the laparoscopic treatment of observed pelvic pathology prior to IUI seems negligible in terms of IUI outcome. Therefore, we seriously question the value of routinely performing a diagnostic and/or therapeutic laparoscopy prior to IUI treatment. Further prospective studies could be performed to determine the effect of laparoscopic interventions on the success rate of IUI treatment in order to rule out completely the laparoscopy from the diagnostic route prior to IUI.     

The type of catheter has no impact on the pregnancy rate after intrauterine insemination: a randomized study

BACKGROUND: This study was done to test the hypothesis that intrauterine insemination (IUI) using a soft-tip catheter results in a higher live birth rate than IUI using a hard-tip catheter. METHODS: Five hundred and forty patients were randomized into those inseminated with a soft-tip catheter (group 1, n = 267) and those inseminated with a hard-tip catheter (group 2, n = 269). Four patients were excluded. Main outcome measures included pregnancy rate and live birth rate per cycle. RESULTS: Both groups were similar with regard to female age, duration of infertility, ovarian stimulation and sperm quality. No significant differences were observed between group 1 and group 2 regarding clinical pregnancy rate per cycle (20 versus 19%), live birth rate per cycle (15 versus 14%), multiple live birth rate per cycle (4 versus 6%) and multiple live birth per total of live births (5 versus 8%, overall 6%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Our hypothesis that IUI using a soft tip catheter results in a higher live birth rate per cycle than IUI using a hard-tip catheter was not confirmed in this study. Multiple live birth rate after treatment with low-dose gonadotrophins and IUI can be kept low (6%).     

The use of intrauterine insemination in Australia and New Zealand

BACKGROUND: There is good evidence in the literature in favour of intrauterine insemination (IUI) as the most cost-effective treatment for unexplained and moderate male factor subfertility. However there is no published data on whether this evidence is being translated into clinical practice. METHODS: We identified fertility centres within Australia and New Zealand registered with the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee of the Fertility Society of Australasia. Thirty-seven of these units were then sent a postal survey to establish current clinical practice. RESULTS: Nearly a third of centres promote IVF as first-line treatment even in the presence of patent tubes and normal semen while, when semen parameters are reduced, IUI is rarely considered. One in five (20%) units remain unconvinced of the cost-effectiveness of IUI. When IUI is used, it is virtually always combined with ovarian stimulation with marginally more units using clomiphene citrate than gonadotrophins. CONCLUSIONS: Although it may take relatively more treatment cycles to achieve pregnancy, there are considerable advantages to the patient in terms of risk/benefit ratio and financial cost associated with IUI compared with IVF. In the current climate of evidence-based medicine, as clinicians we are obliged to translate this into our practice. It appears from our survey that in many units this is not happening.     

Patients' preferences in deciding between intrauterine insemination and expectant management

BACKGROUND: Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a commonly used treatment in subfertile couples. We assessed patients' preferences for IUI relative to expectant management. METHODS: Forty subfertile couples were offered scenarios in which the treatment-independent pregnancy chance was varied against a fixed pregnancy chance after IUI without or with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) of 8% and 12% per cycle, respectively. The treatment-independent pregnancy chance within 12 months was initially set at 100%, and subsequently reduced until couples switched preferences. We also investigated the impact of the risks of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and multiple pregnancy on couples' preferences. RESULTS: When pregnancy was guaranteed within a year, all couples would opt for expectant management. Most couples switched to IUI without COH at a 60% chance of a treatment-independent pregnancy and to IUI with COH between a 40% and 60% chance. Where the risk of OHSS was set at 10%, a large majority of the couples preferred expectant management to IUI. At a multiple pregnancy risk of 100%, 77% of the couples would still prefer IUI. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of couples prefer IUI with or without COH when the treatment-independent pregnancy chance in the next 12 months is <50% and <40%, respectively. The risk of a multiple pregnancy does not affect their preference for IUI, whereas IUI is rejected when the risk of OHSS exceeds 10%.     

Luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome: incidence and recurrence rate in infertile women with unexplained infertility undergoing intrauterine insemination

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and recurrence rate of luteinized unruptured follicle (LUF) syndrome in women with unexplained infertility undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI). METHODS: A total of 167 women with unexplained infertility who underwent 292 cycles of IUI were enrolled in the study. All patients were treated with clomiphene citrate, 50-150 mg/daily from day 5 to 9 of their menstrual cycle. Ultrasound examination to confirm ovulation was performed on the day of IUI (day 0) and every day thereafter for another 3 days (days 1, 2 and 3). A total of 69 women who failed to conceive in the first cycle and 56 women who failed to conceive in the second cycle underwent second and third cycles, respectively. RESULTS: Of the total 167 patients who underwent first cycle, 42 (25%) had LUF. The incidence of LUF was 56.5% in 69 patients who underwent a second cycle of IUI treatment, of whom 33 patients had LUF in the first cycle with recurrence rate of 78.6%. In 56 patients who underwent 3 consecutive cycles, the incidence of LUF was 58.9% and recurrence rate of 90%. No pregnancies were recorded in patients with LUF during the study period. CONCLUSION: The incidence and recurrence rate of LUF are significantly increased in subsequent cycles of IUI. In these patients, other options of infertility treatment might be justified.     

Cancer and male infertility: Gamete intra-Fallopian transfer or in-vitro fertilization after failed ovarian stimulation and intrauterine insemination in unexplained infertility?

A prospective randomized study was designed to compare gameteintra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) and in-vitro fertilization (IVF)and embryo transfer in the treatment of couples who have failedto conceive after at least three cycles of ovarian stimulationand intrauterine insemination (IUI). A total of 69 couples withprimary unexplained infertility of at least 2 years' durationplus at least three failed cycles of ovarian stimulation andIUI were randomly allocated to either GIFT or IVF/embryo transfer.The clinical pregnancy rate was 34% after GIFT treatment and50% after IVF/embryo transfer. This difference was not statisticallysignificant. The twin rate in the IVF/embryo transfer groupwas higher than in the GIFT group (53 versus 17%, P = 0.005).We conclude that patients with unexplained infertility and failedovarian stimulation and IUI can still achieve encouraging pregnancyrates with IVF/embryo transfer or GIFT. Since IVF/embryo transferis the least invasive of the two procedures and may yield diagnosticinformation, we would favour this therapy; however, the numberof embryos transferred should be reduced to two to reduce therisk of twin pregnancy.     

Intrauterine insemination versus Fallopian tube sperm perfusion in non-tubal subfertility: a systematic review based on a Cochrane review

BACKGROUND: The objective of this review was to compare the efficacy of Fallopian tube sperm perfusion (FSP) with intrauterine insemination (IUI) in the treatment of non-tubal subfertility. METHODS: The principles of the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group were employed. Only randomized controlled studies comparing FSP with IUI were included in this review. The main outcome measures included live birth rates and pregnancy rates per couple. RESULTS: Twenty-eight studies were found performing the comparison of interest. Overall six studies involving 474 couples were included in the meta-analysis. One study only assessed live birth rates, which resulted in no difference in outcome between FSP and IUI [odds ratio (OR) 1.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39-3.53]. The results in pregnancy rate per couple revealed no statistically significant difference between FSP and IUI (OR 1.76, 95% CI 0.77-4.05). Subgroup analysis revealed that couples suffering from unexplained subfertility clearly benefit from FSP over IUI (OR 2.88, 95% CI 1.73-4.78). Excluding studies which used the Foley catheter for tubal perfusion resulted in a significant difference favouring FSP for all indications (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.54-3.80). CONCLUSIONS: There is firm evidence that FSP gives rise to higher pregnancy rates in couples with unexplained subfertility and should therefore be advised in these couples. For other indications FSP has not been proven more effective compared with IUI. Results showed that the Foley catheter might not be effective for FSP. Future research should focus on comparing different types of catheters.