The use of tenaculum during intrauterine insemination may not affect the pregnancy outcome.
OBJECTIVE
The association between tenaculum application to the cervix just before embryo transfer and lower pregnancy rate has been reported. However, studies on the use of tenaculum in intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles are not available. This study attempted to investigate whether the use of tenaculum affects the clinical outcomes of IUI.


METHODS
Two hundred and thirty three CC/hMG/ IUI cycles of one hundred and forty three couples were recruited at Seoul National University Hospital from October 2006 to December 2008. Mock insemination and IUI with or without tenaculum application to the cervix were also performed, and clinical pregnancy rate was compared.


RESULTS
The incidence of difficult mock insemination at the beginning of cycle was higher in the tenaculum use group (p < 0.001). No significant statistical difference in the clinical pregnancy rate was observed between the groups with or without tenaculum application (12.1% vs. 18.5%; p = 0.175), which was not influenced by the difficulty of mock insemination.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of tenaculum during IUI may not affect the pregnancy outcome. Our results need to be confirmed by a prospective study in a larger population.
Park
Kyung Eui
KE
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Ku
Seung-Yup
SY
Kim
Hoon
H
Jee
Byung Chul
BC
Suh
Chang Suk
CS
Kim
Seok Hyun
SH
Choi
Young Min
YM
Kim
Jung Gu
JG
Moon
Shin Yong
SY
D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007317:Insemination, Artificial, Homologous / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000502:physiology*
D006728:Hormones