ABSOLUTE MALE FACTOR INFERTILITY - A USEFUL MODEL FOR EVALUATING THE EFFICACY OF CRYOPRESERVED SEMEN

Cryopreserved semen generally results in diminished pregnancy rates wh en used for donor insemination. However, coexisting female subfecundit y may significantly confound the pregnancy outcome. Therefore, in orde r to determine the efficacy of cryopreserved semen, 43 consecutive wom en with absolute male factor infertility (single women or wives of azo ospermic men) were inseminated with cryopreserved spermatozoa using ce rvical caps. Life table analysis of the results revealed a cumulative probability of conception of 84% with a monthly fecundability rate of 19% after eight insemination cycles. These results are similar to thos e reported using fresh semen, suggesting that the efficacy of cryopres erved semen may be higher than previously believed.