OVULATION INDUCTION WITH GONADOTROPINS AS SOLE TREATMENT IN INFERTILECOUPLES WITH OPEN TUBES - A RANDOMIZED PROSPECTIVE COMPARISON BETWEENINTRAUTERINE INSEMINATION AND TIMED VAGINAL INTERCOURSE

Objective: To assess if ovulation induction with gonadotropins alone i s an appropriate treatment in couples affected by unexplained and mild male factor-related infertility and if the concomitant IUI improves t he pregnancy rate (PR). Design: Prospective and randomized trial. Sett ing: Infertility Centre of Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Patients: Two hundred cou ples affected by unexplained or mild male factor-related infertility w ere assigned randomly to one of two treatment groups: group A (n = 100 ), treated with three consecutive cycles of ovulation induction with g onadotropins associated with timed vaginal intercourse; group B (n = 1 00), treated with three consecutive cycles of ovulation induction with gonadotropins associated with IUI. Main Outcome Measure: Pregnancy ra te. Results: The PRs obtained with ovulation induction with gonadotrop ins associated with IUI were similar to those obtained with ovulation induction with gonadotropins associated with timed vaginal intercourse . Conclusion: Ovulation induction with gonadotropins alone may be as e ffective as ovulation induction with gonadotropins associated with IUI in couples with unexplained and mild male factor infertility and can represent the initial treatment option for its minimal invasivity and reduced cost and organizational problems.