Effect of time interval between human chorionic gonadotropin injection and intrauterine insemination on pregnancy rate

Abstract

Abstract Background Controlled ovarian stimulation with intrauterine insemination (COS/IUI) is an established tool in infertility treatment. There has been debate regarding the optimum time at which IUI can be done to yield the peak pregnancy rate. Objective To compare the effect of postponing IUI 48 h after hCG injection with current practice protocol, on pregnancy rate. Study design: A randomized. controlled study. Setting was at Cytogenetic and Endoscopy Unit, Zagazig University Hospital. Material and methods This study included one hundred and forty-one infertile couples that had been scheduled for artificial insemination by husband semen. Women were divided into 2 groups: the study group, including seventy women in whom IUI was performed 48 h after hCG injection and the control group, including seventy-one women in whom IUI was done 36 h after hCG injection. Results The total and clinical pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the study group compared to the control group (25% vs. 10.6% p = 0.03 and 20.31% vs. 7.57% p = 0.03 respectively). Conclusion This study showed a statistically significant increase in pregnancy rate in women with delaying IUI 48 h after hCG trigger, compared to the pregnancy rate in the women having the standard procedure.