The use of novel semen quality scores to predict pregnancy in couples with male-factor infertility undergoing intrauterine insemination.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether 2 new semen quality (SQ) scores could predict pregnancy in patients undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI) for male-factor infertility and whether an overall score could help in counseling these couples with assisted reproductive technique (ART) options. Ninety-three couples with male-factor infertility were examined for semen analysis. Samples were prepared by density gradient separation (47% and 90%), and IUI was performed. On the basis of the 2 semen scores (SQ and relative quality [RQ]), the IUI-semen pregnancy score (IUI-SPS) was calculated. Of the 192 IUI cycles, 14% (27 of 192) resulted in pregnancy. Both prewash SQ and RQ scores were significantly related to pregnancy (P =.02 and P <.001), as was the postwash RQ score (P <.001). Of the IUI cycles in which the postwash RQ score was greater than 125, 40% (13 of 32) resulted in pregnancy compared to 9% of cycles (14 of 160) in which the postwash SQ score was less than 125. The prewash IUI-SPS score was significantly related to IUI-induced pregnancy (P <.001). Both the pre- and postwash SQ and RQ scores can predict pregnancy in male infertility patients undergoing IUI. Patients with an IUI-SPS less than 150 may be advised to seek in vitro fertilization (IVF), whereas those with an IUI-SPS greater than 150 may be advised to seek IUI.