Papel de la inseminación intrauterina en la era de la fertilización in vitro

Intrauterine insemination is a low-complexity assisted reproduction technology in which previously washed sperm are deposited in the uterine cavity with ovarian stimulation. This invasive technique is well accepted by patients and achieves cumulative pregnancy rates similar to those obtained in a single cycle of more complex assisted reproduction techniques. We compared two methods of assisted reproduction: in vitro fertilization and intrauterine insemination in relation to their effectiveness and cost. We conclude that intrauterine insemination is the first-line treatment in male factor infertility without severe disruption or unexplained infertility; pregnancy can be achieved with 3 to 6 cycles in a high percentage of these cases at lower cost and with lower risk of multiple pregnancy than with in vitro insemination. We did not consider other techniques, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection, which is also indicated for the treatment of male factor infertility, since this technique requires greater technical and human resources, thus precluding comparison.