Pharmacologic induction of multiple follicular development improves the success rate of artificial insemination with husband's semen in couples with male-related or unexplained infertility

Abstract

The use of artificial insemination with husband's semen (AIH) as treatment for couples with male-related or unexplained infertility is often disappointing. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the induction of multiple ovulation can increase the pregnancy rates in couples treated with AIH. Multiple follicular development was induced by means of clomiphene citrate (CC) plus purified follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in 17 couples undergoing AIH for male-related or unexplained infertility. In spite of the long duration of infertility (greater than 6 years), 10 couples (58.8%) achieved pregnancy within 6 months of treatment. This figure was significantly higher than that obtained in 120 couples who underwent AIH either during spontaneous cycles or after induction of follicular development with CC alone. These results suggest that the availability of multiple mature oocytes increases the conception rate during each cycle, as reported for in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs. It is therefore suggested that a trial of induction of multiple follicular development be performed in couples with male-related or unexplained infertility before their inclusion in protocols for invasive procedures, such as IVF or gamete intrafallopian transfer.