The use of novel semen quality scores to predict pregnancy in couples with male-factor infertility undergoing intrauterine insemination.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether 2 new semen quality (SQ) scores could predict pregnancy in patients undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI) for male-factor infertility and whether an overall score could help in counseling these couples with assisted reproductive technique (ART) options. Ninety-three couples with male-factor infertility were examined for semen analysis. Samples were prepared by density gradient separation (47% and 90%), and IUI was performed. On the basis of the 2 semen scores (SQ and relative quality [RQ]), the IUI-semen pregnancy score (IUI-SPS) was calculated. Of the 192 IUI cycles, 14% (27 of 192) resulted in pregnancy. Both prewash SQ and RQ scores were significantly related to pregnancy (P =.02 and P <.001), as was the postwash RQ score (P <.001). Of the IUI cycles in which the postwash RQ score was greater than 125, 40% (13 of 32) resulted in pregnancy compared to 9% of cycles (14 of 160) in which the postwash SQ score was less than 125. The prewash IUI-SPS score was significantly related to IUI-induced pregnancy (P <.001). Both the pre- and postwash SQ and RQ scores can predict pregnancy in male infertility patients undergoing IUI. Patients with an IUI-SPS less than 150 may be advised to seek in vitro fertilization (IVF), whereas those with an IUI-SPS greater than 150 may be advised to seek IUI.
Center for Advanced Research in Human Reproduction, Infertility, and Sexual Function, Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology and Urological Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
Mohamed A
MA
Bedaiwy
Rakesh K
RK
Sharma
Tarek K
TK
Alhussaini
Maher S
MS
Mohamed
Ali M
AM
Abdel-Aleem
David R
DR
Nelson
Anthony J
AJ
Thomas
Ashok
A
Agarwal
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007315:Insemination, Artificial; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome