Pregnancy predictors after intrauterine insemination: analysis of 3012 cycles in 1201 couples

Abstract

Background: Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is the first therapeutic step in assisted reproductive techniques and many factors, including male and female infertility and technique-dependent factors, have been reported to influence pregnancy rates after IUI.

Methods: We carried out this retrospective study on 1201 couples undergoing 3012 intrauterine insemination cycles during 2002 to 2009. Pregnancy rate per cycle in terms of female infertility factors, male infertility factors, and technique-dependent factors were evaluated. The χ (2) , t-test, Kaplan-meier method, and multiple logistics regression model, were used for data analysis. The p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The highest pregnancy rates were obtained in cases whose infertility duration was shorter (p < 0.05), Body Mass Index (BMI) was ≥25 (p < 0.05), FSH < 9 IU/L (p < 0.05), anovulation due to polycystic ovary syndrome (p < 0.05), donor sperm was used due to azoospermia (p < 0.01), three IUI cycles (p < 0.01), at least two follicles were recruited through controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (p < 0.01), and where higher total doses of FSH were administered as necessary (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: This study characterizes predictors of pregnancy following IUI, for cases with shorter periods of infertility, BMI of 25 or more, FSH value below 9 IU/L, anovulation, donor sperm and performance of three intrauterine insemination cycles.

Keywords: Gonadotropin; Intrauterine insemination; Ovarian hyperstimulation; Pregnancy rate; Semen analysis.

Figure 1

Accumulated probability over time of no pregnancy (Kaplan-Meier test) for participants with baseline FSH ≥ 9 IU/L and <9 IU/L