Semen parameters and conception rates after intraperitoneal insemination.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the reproductive outcome in infertile couples which underwent intraperitoneal insemination (IPI).


METHODS
We analyzed a series of 216 couples who underwent IPI. Indications for treatment were unexplained infertility in 51 couples and male factor in 165. The 51 couples with unexplained infertility underwent a total of 71 cycles (20 couples underwent a second IPI cycle). The 165 couples with male factor underwent 243 cycles (165 first cycles and 78 second cycles).


RESULTS
Out of the 314 cycles performed, a total of 41 clinical pregnancies were observed, with a corresponding conception rate of 13.1%. The values of conception rates for unexplained and male factor infertility were 21.1 (based on 15 pregnancies) and 10.7% (based on 26 pregnancies), respectively. Out of the 41 pregnant women, 26 gave birth to a child, thus the overall livebirth rate was 8.3% (12.7 and 7.0%, respectively, for unexplained infertility and male factor diagnostic subgroups). Considering the couples with unexplained infertility, the conception rates were 9.0, 30.8 and 20.0% for strata of < 5, 5-10 and > or = 10 millions of inseminated spermatozoa. The corresponding values were 6.8, 12.5 and 18.5%, respectively, in couples with male factor infertility (chi(2)1 trend p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, this series provides quantitative estimates of pregnancy rates after IPI in Italian couples with unexplained infertility or male infertility and suggested that the number of motile sperm inseminated is a determinant of pregnancy with this technique.
Ragni
G
G
Prima Clinica Ostetrica Ginecologica, Università di Milano, Italia.
Parazzini
F
F
Sapienza
F
F
Chatenoud
L
L
De Lauretis
L
L
Perotti
L
L
Vegetti
W
W
Crosignani
P G
PG
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011379:Prognosis; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility