Intrauterine insemination in male factor subfertility: Significance of sperm motility and morphology assessed by strict criteria

The study was conducted to evaluate the results of IUI treatment in a homog enous group with male factor infertility, and to assess the correlation of sperm variables, including sperm morphology by strict criteria, with pregna ncy achievement after TUI. A total of 108 couples with no apparent female a etiology for infertility underwent 264 intrauterine insemination treatment cycles. A comparison was made between the sperm variables in two groups in which the achievement of pregnancy differed. The percentage of motile sperm atozoa, degree of motility and normal morphology (by strict criteria) were significantly higher in the pregnant group compared with that of the nonpre gnant group. A significant difference in pregnancy rates per couple after i ntrauterine insemination was demonstrated among three groups according to t he percentage of sperm morphology, i.e. poor (<4%), fair ( 4-11%) or good ( >14%) (11.1%; 36.1% and 50.0%, respectively). Intrauterine insemination is a valid mode of treatment in cases with male infertility, provided that nor mal morphology Ly strict criteria is higher than 4%.