Comparison of the methods of artificial insemination on the incidence of conception in single unmarried women.
OBJECTIVE
To compare pregnancy rates after intrauterine insemination (IUI) versus pericervical insemination in absolute male factor infertility using each patient as her own control.


METHODS
Ovulatory women with patent fallopian tubes without male partners were alternately inseminated with cryopreserved donor semen using either IUI or pericervical insemination techniques. A total of 81 cycles, which included up to 4 cycles per patient were performed. In this manner a comparison between the efficacy of each method could be evaluated.


METHODS
The donor insemination program at the Center For Assisted Reproduction at Northwestern University Medical School.


METHODS
Twenty-six single, healthy, unmarried women with patent fallopian tubes and < 40 years of age without male partners (absolute male factor infertility).


METHODS
Positive quantitative serum subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin followed by the presence of an intrauterine gestational sac seen by transvaginal ultrasonography.


RESULTS
Fourteen (54%) of 26 patients conceived including two (14%) miscarriages within four insemination cycles. Seven (17.5%) patients after IUI, and 7 (17.1%) patients after pericervical insemination conceived. The pregnancy rates were similar regardless of the order of insemination method.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings reveal that there is no statistical difference in the pregnancy outcome between these two methods of insemination in absolute male factor infertility.
Peters
A J
AJ
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Northwestern University Medical School, Prentice Women's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
Hecht
B
B
Wentz
A C
AC
Jeyendran
R S
RS
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D006801:Humans; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D017533:Marital Status; D011247:Pregnancy