SUPEROVULATION COMBINED WITH INSEMINATION OR TIMED INTERCOURSE IN THETREATMENT OF COUPLES WITH UNEXPLAINED INFERTILITY AND MINIMAL ENDOMETRIOSIS

Background. To compare intrauterine insemination (IUI), direct intrape ritoneal insemination (DIPI), and timed intercourse (TI), each combine d with superovulation, in the treatment of couples with unexplained in fertility, including couples with minimal endometriosis. Methods. A re trospective analysis of 233 superovulation cycles in 70 couples with u nexplained infertility or minimal endometriosis. Stimulation protocol, pregnancy rate, pregnancy outcome. and complications of treatment wer e analyzed.Results. The pregnancy rare was 8.6% per cycle and 28.5% pe r couple. A majority of all treatment pregnancies (85%) occurred durin g the first four cycles of treatment. The duration of infertility did not influence the pregnancy rate. The pregnancy rate in patients with unexplained infertility was higher, but not significantly, than in pat ients with minimal endometriosis (27.7% versus 18.4%). No predictive m arker for successful stimulation was found, except for the higher lute al progesterone level in cycles resulting in pregnancy. The multiple p regnancy rate was high: 30% of all pregnancies and 40% of all deliveri es were multiple. Conclusions. Superovulation in combination with inse mination or intercourse is effective and is still recommended in the t reatment of couples with unexplained infertility.