Does catheter type effect pregnancy rate in intrauterine insemination cycles?
OBJECTIVE
To determine if a soft insemination catheter increases pregnancy rates.


METHODS
Seven hundred forty-seven consecutive intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles in 364 women in a reproductive endocrinology office between October 1998 and March 2000. Patients with even birth years were inseminated with the Tomcat catheter, and those with odd birth year with the Wallace IUI catheter. Clinical pregnancy rates were compared.


RESULTS
The Wallace catheter group included 180 women for 372 cycles and an overall pregnancy rate of 16.4%. The Tomcat catheter group included 184 women for 375 cycles and an overall pregnancy rate of 18.1%. This difference is not statistically significant (P = 0.61). Potential confounders were accounted for.


CONCLUSIONS
When comparing the softer Wallace catheter to the less pliable Tomcat catheter during IUI cycles, there was no significant difference in pregnancy rate when using a standard gentle technique that includes not touching the top of the fundus with the catheter.
Smith
Karen L
KL
Department of OB/GYN, Baystate Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Springfield, Massachusetts 01199, USA.
Grow
Daniel R
DR
Wiczyk
Halina P
HP
O'Shea
Donna L
DL
Arny
Margaret
M
D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000209:etiology; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate