title: The interaction of parameters of male and female fertility in couples with previously unexplained infertility.
abstract: A prospective study was undertaken of the relationship between semen variables, serial endocrine and follicular ultrasound measurements in one complete menstrual cycle, and the treatment-independent chance of conception for couples who were referred with unexplained infertility. For the 91 couples studied, the mean length of infertility was 70 months. A 100% follow-up rate was achieved. When a stepwise analysis was performed examining semen variables and ultrasonographic and endocrine variables, the mean ratio of salivary progesterone/plasma estradiol between days +1 and +3, with respect to the luteinizing hormone surge and the Grade 2 motile sperm density, were the only variables that achieved the 5% level of significance. There was a highly significant relationship between the product of these two variables and the chance of conception. This study clearly demonstrates an interaction between parameters of male and female fertility.
authors.affiliation: Harris Birthright Research Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Jessop Hospital for Women, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Dunphy
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Macleod
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Barratt
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Lenton
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Cooke
mesh_terms: D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D006062:Gonadotropins; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone