title: Long-term follow-up of couples after hamster egg penetration testing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the clinical usefulness of the zona-free hamster egg penetration test as a long-term prognostic indicator for future pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Washington University Medical Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  All couples (n = 148) who had a hamster egg penetration assay performed between March 1, 1985 and December 31, 1986 were identified and followed with direct or telephone contact up to 68 months after the initial assay.
  
  
  METHODS
  The monthly fecundity rates using life table analysis and the 5-year incidence of pregnancy were categorized by the percentage of hamster eggs penetrated and by history of previous urologic surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in the rate nor incidence of pregnancy in couples with hamster egg penetration scores of 0%, > 0% and < or = 10%, > 10% and < or = 20%, or > 20%. Although men with previous urologic surgery tended to have lower scores, there was no significant difference in the 5-year incidence of pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hamster egg penetration score is not predictive of incidence of pregnancy nor time to conception.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: O'Shea
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Odem
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cholewa
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gast
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000601:surgery