Effect of clinical and semen characteristics on efficacy of ovulatory stimulation in patients undergoing intrauterine insemination.

Abstract

We measured the effect of ovulatory stimulation (OS) upon intrauterine insemination (IUI) success rates, particularly among patients with risk factors for IUI failure. Retrospective review of medical and laboratory results from 512 patients who underwent 1576 cycles of IUI with partner's sperm over a 3 year period. Data were collected on 3 risk factors for IUI failure (advanced female age > 37.7 years, prior corrective pelvic surgery, and poor post-wash sperm motility), and on method of OS (none, clomiphene citrate, or gonadotropin). Patients who underwent OS had significantly higher pregnancy rates (7.6%) than those who did not (4.7%, p = 0.02). However, when patients were stratified by their risk factors, OS made a significant difference only for patients without risk factors. These patients had a 15.5% per cycle pregnancy rate with OS, compared to 7.9% in unstimulated IUI cycles (p = 0.04). Ovulatory stimulation doubles IUI pregnancy rates among young patients without a prior pelvic surgery and with good post-wash semen quality. The benefit of OS for patients with risk factors for IUI failure is unclear. These patients should be counseled that their chances for success with IUI are limited, with or without OS.