TIMED INTERCOURSE AFTER INTRAUTERINE INSEMINATION FOR TREATMENT OF INFERTILITY

Objective: To compare the pregnancy rates, between intrauterine insemi nation (IUI) followed by timed intercourse and IUI only for treatment of the infertile couples. Study design: A prospective study of two dif ferent protocols of intrauterine insemination in two hundred and one i nfertile couples with a normal spermiogram was carried out. Of these, 101 couples were treated with TUI alone and 100 couples had bath IUI a nd timed intercourse within a 12-18 h period. The pregnancy rates were compared between groups. Results: The characteristics of the two grou ps were similar in terms of the mean age, as well as the duration and causes of infertility. The cycle characteristics following follicular stimulation were also similar between two groups. The pregnancy rate p er cycle increased with increasing numbers of total motile sperm per i nsemination in the IUI alone group (P=0.045). Timed intercourse increa sed pregnancy rate in patients with lower motile sperm number (<40X10( 6)) (27.7% versus 10.5%, P=0.023), but not in patients with higher spe rm number (greater than or equal to 40x10(6)) (25.7% versus 22.7%, P=0 .671). Conclusions: In IUI with low number of motile sperm inseminated , timed intercourse significantly increases the pregnancy rates over I UI alone in infertile couples with a normal sperminogram. This alterna tive treatment appears to be a practical, simple, and inexpensive addi tion that improves the pregnancy rate in patients receiving ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination program. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sci ence Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.