title: Intrauterine insemination-No more Mr. N.I.C.E. guy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the per cycle chance of a live birth and to identify factors that may support a more individualised application of IUI in view of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) updated guideline on fertility 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective, cohort study of 851 couples (1688 cycles) with unexplained, mild endometriosis, one patent Fallopian tube (with ovulation occurring in the corresponding ovary), mild male factor or ovulatory dysfunction, who initiated their first cycle of IUI/COH during the study period 2009-2013 and completed up to 3 cycles. Exclusion criteria included donor sperm and diminished ovarian reserve. Success factors and probabilities were determined based on live birth rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 33.8±3.3years and mean duration of subfertility was 2.28±1.47years. Independent associates of successful outcome factors were lower age (AOR 0.93; 95%CI 0.89-0.98, p=0.007) and multiparity (AOR 1.72; 95%CI 1.17-2.52). Live-birth rates declined independently of other factors from 15.3% (n=130/851) in cycle 1-7.0% (n=19/273) in cycle 3 (AOR 0.76; 95%CI, 0.62-0.93, p=0.008). Per cycle probabilities of live birth ranged from 21.4% to 5.1% dependent on age, cycle number and previous parity. The unadjusted cumulative pregnancy rate for live birth per cycle started, over three cycles, was 34.9% with a multiple live birth rate per cycle started of 5.4%. The associates of live birth amongst those with unexplained sub-fertility only (n=632, first cycle attempt) were also analysed, yielding similar results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IUI/COH is a simple treatment that produces good live birth rates, especially in younger patients and/or those with previous parity. More than 90% of total live births with IUI/COH is achieved during the first two cycles. As a retrospective, observational study, there is no comparator group and therefore we cannot comment on the relative efficacy of up to three IUI cycles over expectant management in a similar cohort. Our study suggests that probabilities of success can be used to individualise treatment decisions and that there is merit in continuing to offer IUI before resorting to IVF for certain patients.
authors.affiliation: Cork Fertility Centre, Fernhurst Clinic, College Road, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: minnageisler@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Minna E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Geisler
authors.affiliation: University College Dublin, School of Medicine and Medical Science, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ledwidge
authors.affiliation: University College Dublin, School of Medicine and Medical Science, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bermingham
authors.affiliation: Cork Fertility Centre, Fernhurst Clinic, College Road, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McAuliffe
authors.affiliation: Cork Fertility Centre, Fernhurst Clinic, College Road, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Moya B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: McMenamin
authors.affiliation: Cork Fertility Centre, Fernhurst Clinic, College Road, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Waterstone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Intrauterine insemination; Unexplained subfertility