The influence of ovulatory dysfunction and timing of insemination on the success of artificial insemination donor (AID) with fresh or cryopreserved semen

Abstract

The influence of ovulatory dysfunction and timing of insemination on the success of AID with either fresh or cryopreserved semen was investigated. A total of 238 patients were inseminated, resulting in 170 pregnancies during 1201 insemination cycles, an average of 5.0 cycles per pregnancy. Pregnancy rates were similar in those patients receiving either fresh or cryopreserved semen, but the number of cycles required for pregnancy to occur was doubled in the latter group. Ovulatory dysfunction further delayed the number of cycles before conception. The poorest results occurred in those patients with ovulatory dysfunction receiving cryopreserved semen. The timing of insemination was more important in patients receiving cryopreserved semen than those receiving fresh semen. With cryopreserved semen, pregnancy was not likely to occur unless the insemination was performed on the day of ovulation. These data suggest that frozen semen is less efficacious than fresh semen, a difference that is compounded by the presence of ovulatory dysfunction in the recipient. It is possible that an increase in the frequency of insemination from every other day to daily may improve the results of AID with cryopreserved semen.