European postcoital tests: opinions and practice

Abstract

Objective: To assess differences in opinion and practice with regard to the postcoital test in Europe.

Design: Multilingual questionnaire survey among heads of departments of obstetrics and gynaecology with large fertility clinics in 16 European countries.

Subjects: Of 203 heads of departments, each responsible for 882 infertility cases per year (95% CI 657-1107) 145 (71%) responded. INFORMATION SOUGHT: Use of the postcoital test: its timing in relation to cycle and coitus, methodology used for the test, cut-off level of normality and treatments applied for abnormal test results.

Results: The postcoital test is used in 92% (and routinely in 68%) of departments. There are large differences in timing of the test in relation to menstrual cycle and coitus, in microscopic magnification used, and in cut-off levels of normality. More than 10 different treatments are applied for abnormal test results.

Conclusion: Guidelines of the World Health Organisation are not followed and divergence in practice and opinion is wide enough to question whether infertile couples are better off with than without the test.