title: Long-term follow up of couples initially randomized between immobilization and immediate mobilization subsequent to IUI.
abstract: A previous randomized clinical trial compared immobilization for 15 min with immediate mobilization subsequent to intrauterine insemination (IUI) and showed higher ongoing pregnancy rates in couples immobilizing subsequent to IUI. The current study compared the long-term effectiveness of immobilization subsequent to IUI. All couples (n = 391) included in the trial were followed for 3 years after randomization and pregnancies and treatments were recorded. After the initial trial period, couples in both groups were offered treatment according to local protocol. The primary outcome was an ongoing pregnancy during the 3 years after the initial trial. In this time period, there were 143 ongoing pregnancies in the immobilization group (n = 199 couples) and 112 ongoing pregnancies in the immediate mobilization group (n = 192). The ongoing pregnancy rates were 72% and 58%, respectively (relative risk 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.4). The persistent significant difference in ongoing pregnancy rates underpins the importance of immobilization after IUI. There is no valid reason to withhold women from immobilizing for 15 min after IUI.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: I.Scholten@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Scholten
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Custers
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Moolenaar
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, 1091 AC Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Flierman
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Antonius Ziekenhuis, 3435 CM Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kennemer Gasthuis, 2035 RC Haarlem, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gianotten
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P G A
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Hompes
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van der Veen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Academic Medical Centre, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B W J
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Mol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018873:Pregnancy Rate
keywords: immobilization; intrauterine insemination; long-term follow up