title: The effect of intrauterine insemination time on semen parameters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this observational study was to determine whether semen parameters (concentration, motility) were affected by the interval between the onset of postwash sperm incubation and intrauterine insemination (IUI) time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen specimens of 100 normozoospermic men collected at the clinic were allowed 20 minutes for liquefaction at room temperature. Semen samples were subjected to both macroscopic and microscopic examinations. After centrifugation in a density gradient column and sperm-washing medium, the samples were kept in an incubator. After 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 120 minutes, the concentration and motility were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According the results of the Bonferroni post hoc test, there were significant differences in values of mean sperm count, percent progressive sperm motility, and total motile sperm count between 30 minutes and 120 minutes (p=0.000, p=0.000, and p=0.000) and between 60 minutes and 120 minutes (p=0.000, p=0.000, and p=0.001), but there was no significant difference between 30 minutes and 60 minutes (p=1, p=0.173, and p=1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that sperm parameters are negatively affected from prolonged incubation time. A maximum 60-minute limit of the interval between the onset of postwash sperm incubation and IUI time may increase pregnancy rates.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Elvan
authors: E
authors: Koyun
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Recep Emre
authors: RE
authors: Okyay
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Omer Erbil
authors: OE
authors: Doğan
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Müge
authors: M
authors: Kovalı
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Sultan Seda
authors: SS
authors: Doğan
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Bülent
authors: B
authors: Gülekli
keywords: IUI time; semen parameters; sperm wash