Effect of sperm treatment with exogenous platelet-activating factor on the outcome of intrauterine insemination.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of sperm treatment with exogenous platelet-activating factor (PAF) on IUI clinical pregnancy rate.


METHODS
Prospective randomized study.


METHODS
Assisted Reproduction Unit, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Aretaieion Hospital, Athens, Greece.


METHODS
Fifty-two couples with unexplained infertility, candidates for IUI.


METHODS
Sperm treatment with an exogenous mixture of PAF (final concentration, 10(-7) mol/L) in sperm-washing medium, direct swim-up technique of sperm preparation, a maximum of six IUI cycles per couple with or without PAF treatment.


METHODS
Clinical pregnancy rate (pregnancies confirmed by ultrasonography per hundred cycles).


RESULTS
The overall clinical pregnancy rate after a maximum of six IUI cycles was significantly higher when sperm was treated with PAF compared with the rate after the direct swim-up technique (23.07% vs. 7.92%).


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of sperm with exogenous PAF might improve the clinical outcome of IUI in cases of unexplained infertility.
Grigoriou
Odysseas
O
Assisted Reproduction Unit, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Aretaieion Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Makrakis
Evangelos
E
Konidaris
Socrates
S
Hassiakos
Dimitrios
D
Papadias
Konstantinos
K
Baka
Stavroula
S
Creatsas
George
G
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007317:Insemination, Artificial, Homologous; D008297:Male; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010972:Platelet Activating Factor