Intrauterine insemination-ready versus conventional semen cryopreservation for donor insemination: a comparison of retrospective results and a prospective, randomized trial.
OBJECTIVE
To compare fecundity rates following intrauterine insemination (IUI) with donor sperm frozen conventionally versus an IUI-ready preparation.


METHODS
Both retrospective results and a prospective, randomized study where recipients were assigned to one of two sperm cryopreservation methods in each cycle of intrauterine insemination are reported.


METHODS
University-based infertility practice, affiliated private practices, and andrology laboratory.


METHODS
Women desiring therapeutic insemination in an effort to establish pregnancy.


METHODS
Intrauterine insemination with donor sperm frozen conventionally or by an IUI-ready protocol.


METHODS
Cycle fecundity in donor IUI recipients.


RESULTS
In a retrospective analysis involving 642 inseminations in 209 recipients, 79 pregnancies were recorded for an overall pregnancy rate of 12.3% per insemination (or cycle): 11.3% with IUI-ready sperm and 13.9% with conventionally preserved sperm. In a follow-up prospective, randomized study, the pregnancy rate for IUI-ready sperm preparations was 36% per cycle (14 of 39) whereas that for conventionally preserved sperm was 19.6% per cycle (9 of 46). Thirteen of the 23 pregnancies occurred in the first study cycle of insemination; only two pregnancies were observed in patients undergoing more than four cycles of insemination.


CONCLUSIONS
Cycle fecundity for IUI-ready donor sperm is equivalent to conventional cryopreserved sperm based on both prospective and retrospective assessments.
Wolf
D P
DP
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health Sciences University, University Fertility Consultants, Portland, Oregon, USA.
Patton
P E
PE
Burry
K A
KA
Kaplan
P F
PF
D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D007316:Insemination, Artificial, Heterologous / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012661:Semen; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation