A 3-STEP PROTOCOL FOR THE TREATMENT OF IDIOPATHIC SUBFERTILITY

650 couples with idiopathic subfertility (mean duration: 5.7 year, ran ge 2-21 years) were treated during 2870 cycles by three assisted conce ption methods (each involving mild ovarian stimulation): I timed inter course (TI), II intrauterine insemination (IUI), III in vitro fertiliz ation/embryo transfer (IVF/ET). Treatment started with TI in most case s and then changed to IUI after three to six cycles. Couples who faile d to conceive were treated after another 3-9 cycles by IVF/ET. An over all cumulative pregnancy rate of 80.2% was reached after 18 treatment months. The pregnancy rates per treatment cycle were: TI 5.3%, IUI 6.9 %, IVF/ET 15.8% (per oocyte retrieval).