The type of catheter has no impact on the pregnancy rate after intrauterine insemination: a randomized study.
BACKGROUND
This study was done to test the hypothesis that intrauterine insemination (IUI) using a soft-tip catheter results in a higher live birth rate than IUI using a hard-tip catheter.


METHODS
Five hundred and forty patients were randomized into those inseminated with a soft-tip catheter (group 1, n = 267) and those inseminated with a hard-tip catheter (group 2, n = 269). Four patients were excluded. Main outcome measures included pregnancy rate and live birth rate per cycle.


RESULTS
Both groups were similar with regard to female age, duration of infertility, ovarian stimulation and sperm quality. No significant differences were observed between group 1 and group 2 regarding clinical pregnancy rate per cycle (20 versus 19%), live birth rate per cycle (15 versus 14%), multiple live birth rate per cycle (4 versus 6%) and multiple live birth per total of live births (5 versus 8%, overall 6%), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Our hypothesis that IUI using a soft tip catheter results in a higher live birth rate per cycle than IUI using a hard-tip catheter was not confirmed in this study. Multiple live birth rate after treatment with low-dose gonadotrophins and IUI can be kept low (6%).
Vermeylen
A-M
AM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. amvermeylen@hotmail.com
D'Hooghe
T
T
Debrock
S
S
Meeuwis
L
L
Meuleman
C
C
Spiessens
C
C
D000367:Age Factors; D001723:Birth Rate; D002404:Catheterization; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007317:Insemination, Artificial, Homologous / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012737:Sex Factors; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D006062:Gonadotropins