title: Predictive value of sperm motility characteristics assessed by computer-assisted sperm analysis in intrauterine insemination with superovulation in couples with unexplained infertility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether characteristics of sperm motility obtained by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) could predict pregnancy after intrauterine insemination (IUI) in couples with unexplained infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred eighty-three cycles of intrauterine insemination with superovulation were retrospectively analyzed. Semen analysis was performed with CASA before and after swim-up and the parameters were compared between pregnant and non-pregnant women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pregnancy rate per cycle was 14.1%. Pregnant and non-pregnant women were comparable in terms of age, infertility duration, the number of dominant follicles. While sperm concentration, motility, and parameters such as average path velocity (VAP) and percentage rapid (RAPID) before semen preparation were significantly different between the pregnancy and non-pregnancy groups, there were no differences in sperm parameters when comparing the two groups after preparation. Using a receiver operating characteristic curve to measure sensitivity and specificity, the optimal threshold value for the predictors of pregnancy was revealed to be a concentration of ≥111×10(6)/mL, a motility of ≥51.4%, and RAPID ≥30.1% before preparation for IUI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sperm parameters including concentration, motility, and RAPID before sperm preparation could have predictive value for pregnancy outcome after intrauterine insemination with superovulation in couples with unexplained infertility, and would be helpful when counseling patients before they make the decision to proceed with IVF/ICSI-ET.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinic of Dr. Min, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Joung Sub
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.forename: Sun Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Chan Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kwang Moon
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jin Yeong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mi Kyoung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Koong
authors.forename: Inn Soo
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: In Ok
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Sang Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Han