Time intervals between semen production, initiation of analysis, and IUI significantly influence clinical pregnancies and live births.

Abstract

Does IDEF mapping help monitor the technical process of IUI and explore the potential improvements which might contribute to increased pregnancy and live birth rates? Retrospective analysis of 1729 homologous IUI cycles of couples attending a fertility clinic in a university hospital setting. Standardized conventional semen parameters were analyzed and the semen samples prepared via discontinuous density gradient centrifugation. There was no significant association between sperm concentration, motility and morphology (analysis phase), and pregnancy outcome. Only female and male ages were significantly associated with the pregnancy outcome. There was a significant difference in the odds on clinical pregnancies and live births when analysis was ≤ 21min initiated, and < 107min between sample production and IUI, adjusted for male and female age. Adjusting for the couple's age, we could show that time intervals between semen production and analysis and IUI when kept low significantly influenced clinical pregnancies and live births.