EFFECT OF SPERM PREINCUBATION TIME ON GIFT PREGNANCY OUTCOME

This investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of human sperm preincubation time on the pregnancy outcome in gamete intrafallopian tube transfers. This was determined in a retrospective study on gamete intrafallopian transfer patients (ideopathic infertility) using logis tic regression with the covariates, preincubation time (less than or e qual to 60 and >60 min) and age (less than or equal to 35 and >35 year s). The study included 485 consecutive gamete intrafallopian transfer cycles in which 3 metaphase II oocytes were transferred. Pregnancy out come was evaluated by beta hCG levels on days 12 and 16 and was confir med by the presence of a fetal heart 8 weeks after the procedure by me ans of sonography. The wife's age and sperm preincubation time were si gnificant covariates in the prediction of ongoing pregnancy. The odds ratio for age (less than or equal to 35 years) was 2.2 in the predicti on of ongoing pregnancy, while the age-adjusted odds ratios for preinc ubation time (less than or equal to 60 min) was 1.9. There was a criti cal relationship between sperm preincubation time and GIFT success, wh ich confirms the effect of the wife's age on pregnancy. Close coordina tion is of importance between the clinical scientist and the physician to restrict the preincubation time to 1 h. The sperm preincubation ti me is a significant factor that has to be considered in the prediction of ongoing pregnancy in GIFT patients.