Can the Prediction of Intrauterine Insemination Results by Used Aniline Blue Stain (ABS) and Sperm Chromatin Dispersion (SCD) Levels?

Introduction: This study aimed to perform routine seminal fluid analysis, sperm DNA fragmentation, and sperm function tests at the chromatin maturation level and evaluate pregnancy in the patients passing intrauterine insemination before starting Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) method. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, 111 couples who underwent Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) in unexplained infertility patients were admitted to Al-Farah IVF and assisted reproductive center in Baghdad, Iraq between November 2020 and February 2021 were evaluated. Semen fluid analysis was performed based on (WHO 4th) guiding rules. In addition, Sperm Chromatin Dispersion (halo test) and sperm maturation were performed with Aniline Blue Stain (ABS). Results: Sperm Chromatin Dispersion (SCD) groups were compared in terms of pregnancy outcome;the positive pregnancy rate was found to be above in the normal SCD groups (p = 0.0005). In addition, Aniline Blue Stain (ABS) groups were compared in the terms of pregnancy outcome;the positive pregnancy rate was found to be higher in the normal ABS group (p = 0.017). Conclusion: Our study showed that the use of DNA fragmentation (SCD) and sperm maturation tests (ABS) together with routine semen analysis in intrauterine insemination cases will make a significant contribution to the prediction of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) increased results. So, these results indicate a defect in the effect of DNA fragmentation on the outcome of intrauterine insemination.

Double versus single homologous intrauterine insemination for male factor infertility： a systematic review and meta-analysis

Male factor infertility affects 30%-50% of infertile couples worldwide, and there is an increasing interest in the optimal management of these patients. In studies comparing double and single intrauterine insemination （IUI）, a trend towards higher pregnancy rates in couples with male factor infertility was observed. Therefore, we set out to perform a meta-analysis to examine the superiority of double versus single IUI with the male partner＇s sperm in couples with male factor infertility. An odds ratio （OR） of 95% confidence intervals （CIs） was calculated for the pregnancy rate. Outcomes were analysed by using the ManteI-Haesel or DerSimonian-Laird model accordingto the heterogeneity of the results. Overall, five trials involving 1125 IUI cycles were included in the meta-analysis. There was a two-fold increase in pregnancies after a cycle with a double IUI compared with a cycle with a single IUI （OR. 2.0; 95% CI. 1.07-3.75; P〈O.03）. Nevertheless, this result was mainly attributed to the presence of a large trial that weighted as almost 50% in the overall analysis. Sensitivity analysis, excluding this large trial, revealed only a trend towards higher pregnancy rates among double IUI cycles （OR. 1.58; 95% CI. 0.59-4.21）, but without statistical significance （P=0.20）. Our systematic review highlights that the available evidence regarding the use of double IUI in couples with male factor infertility is fragmentary and weak. Although there may be a trend towards higher pregnancy rates when the number of IUIs per cycle is increased, further large and well-designed randomized trials are needed to provide solid evidence toide current clinical practice.

Successful pregnancy and birth after intrauterine insemination using caput epididymal sperm by percutaneous aspiration

<abstract>Aim: To manage male infertility with obstructive azoospermia by means of percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) and intrauterine insemination (IUI). Methods: Ninety azoospermic patients with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (BAVD, n=58) or bilateral caudal epididymal obstruction (BCEO, n=32) requesting for fine needle aspiration (FNA), PESA and IUI were recruited. The obstruction was diagnosed by vasography and determination of the fructose, carnitine and alpha-glucosidase levels in the seminal fluid. Results: The mean sperm motility, density, abnormal sperm and total sperm count of the caput epdidymis were 16 %±22 %, (12±31) ×106/mL, 55 %±36 % and (16±14)×106, respectively. In the 90 couples, a total of 74 PESA procedures and 66 cycles of IUI were performed. Three pregnancies resulted, including one twin pregnancy giving birth to two healthy boys, one single pregnancy with a healthy girl and another single pregnancy aborted at week 6 of conception. The pregnancy rate per IUI cycle was 4.5 %. Conclusion: The birth of normal, healthy infants by IUI using PESA indicates that the caput epididymal sperm possess fertilization capacity. The PESA-IUI programme is a practical and economical procedure for the management of patients with obstructive azoospermia.

Ovarian pregnancy rupture following ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination:A case report

BACKGROUND Ovarian pregnancy after assisted reproductive technology treatment has rarely been reported;ovarian pregnancy following intrauterine insemination(IUI)is even rarer,and only nine cases have previously been reported.CASE SUMMARY We report a case of ovarian pregnancy rupture after ovulation induction and IUI.The patient presented with bilateral lower abdominal pain and was referred to the emergency department.Ultrasound examination revealed ovarian pregnancy and intraperitoneal bleeding.Laparoscopy revealed an ovarian pregnancy with hemoperitoneum,which was subsequently removed.Pelvic adhesions were detected intraoperatively,which were treated immediately.The patient spontaneously conceived an intrauterine pregnancy 3 mo later,which was ongoing at the time of writing this study.CONCLUSION Close attention should be paid to any history of pelvic inflammatory disease before commencing IUI treatment,and patients with such a history should be closely followed up after IUI.Early measurement of serumβ-human chorionic gonadotropin levels and ultrasonic examination are essential for timely diagnosis of ovarian pregnancy after ovulation induction and IUI to avoid more serious complications.

Treatment of Infertile Women with Unilateral Tubal Occlusion Diagnosed by Hysterosalpingography:The Role of Intrauterine Insemination

Summary:The optimal assisted reproductive treatment strategy for infertile women with unilateral tubal obstruction remains uncertain.To investigate the role of intrauterine insemination(IUI)in the treatment of infertile women with unilateral tubal occlusion,the data of 148 couples were retrospectively collected and analyzed.Seventy-eight infertile women with unilateral occlusion diagnosed by hysterosalpingography(HSG)were categorized as the study group and 70 others with unexplained infertility as the control group.The study group was divided into a proximal occlusion subgroup and a mid-distal occlusion subgroup for further analysis.The main outcomes,namely the clinical pregnancy rate(CPR),ongoing pregnancy rate(OPR),and live birth rate(LBR)per cycle,were analyzed.Our results showed a tendency of lower CPR,OPR,and LBR in the study group than in the control group,without statistical significance.Further investigations revealed that the unilateral proximal occlusion subgroup had similar CPR,OPR,and LBR as the control group,while the unilateral mid-distal occlusion subgroup had significantly lower CPR(5.1%vs.20.0%,P=0.035),OPR(5.1%vs.20.0%,P=0.035),and LBR(5.1%vs.20.0%,P=0.035)than the control group.In conclusion,the clinical outcomes of IUI were worse in patients with unilateral tubal occlusion than in those with unexplained infertility.This might be primarily caused by the worse outcome of patients with unilateral mid-distal tubal occlusion instead of proximal occlusion.

Clinical pregnancy rate of women with unexplained infertility with or without cervical mucus aspiration before intrauterine insemination: A randomized controlled trial

Objective:To detect effect of removing cervical mucus before performing intrauterine insemination(IUI)on pregnancy rate in patients with unexplained infertility.Methods:The randomized controlled trial was conducted in Infertility Division of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of a tertiary care hospital.Totally 80 patients of unexplained infertility were recruited.By computer generated block randomization in block size of 4 and 6,patients were randomly allocated at time of starting ovarian stimulation into the cervical mucus removal group or the non-removal of cervical mucus group before IUI,40 in each group.Ovarian stimulation with clomiphene 100 mg from day 2-6 of menstrual cycle along with human menopausal gonadotropin 150 IU was given alternate day starting from day 7.Follicular monitoring was done and further doses given as per response;trigger was planned when 1-3 follicle reach a diameter of>18 mm.IUI was planned after trigger.IUI was done as per the group allocated.Mucus cleaning was done in the cervical mucus removal group by aspirating mucus with IUI syringe and sterile cotton swab before IUI.The primary outcome was clinical pregnancy rate.Number of difficult IUIs and cycle cancellation due to ovarian hyperstimulation were also noted.Results:IUI was not done in 4 patients due to hyperstimulation.Pregnancies per IUI cycle occurred in 7.9%(3/38)in the cervical mucus removal group and 21.1%(8/38)in the non-removal of cervical mucus group.There was no statistically significant difference in clinical pregnancy rate between two groups(P=0.19).Conclusions:There is a trend towards a lower clinical pregnancy rate with removal of cervical mucus before IUI in women of unexplained infertility though the difference is not statistically significant.Further studies with large sample size need to be done on this intervention.

Timed Intercourse versus Intrauterine Insemination with Mild Ovarian Stimulation for Unexplained Infertility

Background: Infertility is unexplained in about 22% - 28% of infertile couples. Spontaneous pregnancy may occur in them. If did not happen, Expectant management will be via clomiphene citrate (CC) administration, intrauterine insemination (IUI), and IVF & ICSI. Aim: to assess the effectiveness of intrauterine insemination with mild controlled ovarian stimulation compared with expectant management in couples with unexplained infertility more than one year. Methods: 160 couples with unexplained infertility were selected, The couples were randomly divided into two groups: Group (A) “80 couples”: Intrauterine insemination (IUI) with mild controlled ovarian stimulation (combination of CC + hMG) using prepared semen and was performed 36 hours after hCG injection, Group (B) “80 couples”: Couples had no ovulation induction. They encouraged for timed intercourse in the most fertile days of female cycle guided by folliculometry for 6 months. Data were collected quantitatively, coded and analyzed using SPSS. The power of study is 80% and 95% confidence interval. Result: The pregnancy rate was calculated in both groups: In group (A) (IUI/COS): OPR (Ongoing pregnancy rates) was 27.5% and PR (pregnancy rates)/cycle was 8.6%. In group (B) (Expectant management): OPR was 25% and PR/cycle was 5.3%. Conclusion: Mild controlled ovarian stimulation CC + hMG with IUI offers no statistical significance in terms of pregnancy outcomes over expectant management in this study however significance in the response to stimulation.

Intrauterine Insemination—Our Results between the Years 2008-2012

The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine whether or not there was a significant relationship between women’s age as a cause of sterility and pregnancy after IUI. Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of stimulation of antiestrogens and time of hCG administration on the success of IUI in relation to the age of women. During the period between 2008 and 2012, we performed a total number of 793 IUI. Patients were prepared for IUI in the natural cycle and stimulation with antiestrogens (clomiphene citrate-CC). Ovulation was induced by hCG (Ovitrelle) 40 hours before IUI or immediately after the procedure. Sperm was processed through density gradients. The average success rate of IUI was 10.2% of pregnant women per cycle. Significantly the highest number of pregnant women 16.3% was women with a diagnosis of anovulation. Significantly the lowest success rate of IUI was at the immunological cause of infertility and endometriosis. There was no evidence of age dependence for women on the success of IUI. Stimulation of CC did not significantly increase the chance of becoming pregnant. There was also no statistically significant difference in hCG before and after IUI pregnancy success. The most important group of women for whom IUI is a suitable form of assisted reproduction consists of patients of 35 years old with anovulation cause of sterility. Those patients with an immunological cause of infertility and endometriosis have significantly lower chances of conceiving after IUI and it is preferable for them to choose other techniques of assisted reproduction and embryo transfer.

Intrauterine Insemination Treatment Strategy for Women over 35 Years Old： Based on a Large Sample Multi-center Retrospective Analysis

As we all known, maternal age and ovarian reserve are two of the most important prognosis i-hctors for fertility, in 1980, the study of Menken et al. showed the female fertility declined after 32 years old, especially after 37 years old.

Effect of Timing and Number of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) on the Cycle Clinical Outcome

Objective To study the effect of timing and number of intrauterine insemination （IUI） per cycle on the outcome of artificial insemination by husband （AIH）. Methods A total of 195 infertile couples underwent 379 cycles of lUI with husband＇s sperm. They were divided into 4 groups according to the ovulation and the number of IUIs per cycle： single IUI was performed 24 h after hCG injection, including single IUI before ovulation （group A） and single IUI after ovulation （group B）; double IUI was performed 24 h and 48 h after hCG injection, including double IUI before and after ovulation （group C） and double IUI before ovulation （group D）. The relation-ship between IUI pregnancy rate and the factors like processed total motile sperm （PTMS）, timing and number of lUIs per cycle was analyzed. Results When PTMS〈5 × 10^6, only one case in group B got pregnant, while no pregnancy was observed in other groups. When PTMS ≥ 5 × 10^6, pregnancy rates in all group were improved significantly. The pregnancy rate in group B reached 32.22%, which was significantly higher than that in group A （14.12%）, group C （20.00%） and group D （17.39%）, respectively （P〈0.05）. Conclusion IUI treatment is recommended to be performed when PTMS ≥ 5 × 10^6. An ideal pregnancy rate can be achieved by single IUI which is performed 24 h after hCG injection, and double IUI performed without ovulation could not result in significant improvement of cycle pregnancy rate.

Intrauterine insemination with donor sperm:only the number of motile spermatozoa inseminated influences both pregnancy and live-birth rates

Intrauterine insemination with donor sperm(IUI-D)is an assisted reproductive technology(ART)offered to couples with definitive male infertility or risk of genetic disease transmission.Here,we sought to evaluate our practice in IUI-D and identify factors that influenced the success rate.We performed a retrospective,single-center study of all IUI-D procedures performed at Lille University Medical Center(Lille,France)between January 1,2007,and December 31,2017.Single and multivariate analyses with a mixed logistic model were used to identify factors associated with clinical pregnancies and live births.We included 322 couples and 1179 IUI-D procedures.The clinical pregnancy rate was 23.5%,and the live birth rate was 18.9%per IUI-D.In a multivariate analysis,the women’s age was negatively associated with the live birth rate.The number of motile spermatozoa inseminated was the only factor associated with both clinical pregnancies and live births,with a chosen threshold of 0.75 million.The clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were,respectively,17.3%and 13.0%below the number of motile spermatozoa inseminated threshold and 25.9%and 21.0%at or above the threshold(all P=0.005).The number of motile spermatozoa inseminated was the only factor that significantly influenced both pregnancies and live-birth rates after IUI-D.Indeed,below a threshold of 0.75 million motile spermatozoa inseminated,those rates were significantly lower.Application of this number of motile spermatozoa inseminated threshold may help centers to allocate donations more effectively while maintaining reasonable waiting times for patients.

An Impact of Suspected Peritubal Adhesions by Hysterosalpingography on Outcomes of Intrauterine Insemination

Objective To assess the fertility prospect of women with suspected peritubal adhesions diagnosed by hysterosalpingography （HSG） treated with intrauterine insemination （IUI）. Methods The study group consisted of 93 patients diagnosed as bilateral suspected peritubal adhesions by HSG, and 175 patients with no tubal pathology were classified as control group. A total of 496 cycles of lUI were finished in 268 infertile women. Results There were no differences in basic clinical parameters between the two groups. Cumulative pregnancy rates after two cycles of lUI were 19.4%for the study group, and 34.3%for the control. Cumulative pregnancy rate in the women with abnormal contrast media loculation was significantly lower than that in women of the control （7.4% vs 34.3%, P=0.037）. The cumulative pregnancy rates were similar between the women with abnormal tubal contour and the normal ones （36. 7% vs 34.3%, P=0.800）. Conclusion Suspected peritubal adhesions in HSG were worthy more attention, since the outcome of lUI in women with loculation of contrast material, combined with or without abnormal tubal contour resulted in a significantly lower pregnancy rate than the normal ones. IUI should be delayed before tubal patency was confirmed during these patients.

Which is the Best Protocol of Ovarian Stimulation Prior to Artificial Insemination by Donor

Objective To compare the different ovarian stimulation protocols, clomiphene citrate （CC）, letrozole, human menopausal gonadotropin （hMG） only or combined with CC or letrozole in women undergoing artificial insemination by donor （AID）. Methods In this prospective clinical trial, 671 couples prepared for AID cycles were randomly allocated to 6 groups according to receive different protocols for the first time, natural cycle （group A, n=l14）, CC （group B, n=lOl）, CC and hMG （group C, n=124）, letrozole （group D, n=97）, letrozole and hMG （group E, n=123） and hMG only （group F, n=l12）. Outcomes including total dose of hMG, duration of hMG therapy, dominant follicles number, endometrial thickness, rates of clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome （OHSS）, multiple pregnancy and can- celation were compared among the 6 groups. Results The total doses and duration of administered hMG were significantly lower in group C and group E than in group F. Dominant follicle number was significantly less in group A and more in group C than in other groups. Endometrial thickness of group B was significantly lower than that of other groups. Clinical pregnancy rate, multiple pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, OHSS rate and cancelation rate were not statistically different among the stimulation groups. Conclusion AID cycles in which both CC and letrozole had been administered may require shorter duration and a lower total gonadotropin dose, while the clinical out-comes were similar.

Men with a complete absence of normal sperm morphology exhibit high rates of success without assisted reproduction

In couples with infertility, abnormal strict morphology of 0% normal forms （NF） is a criterion to proceed rapidly to in vitro fertilization （IVF）. Since no data currently exist, we investigated the outcomes for men with 0% NF to determine reproductive success without the use of assisted reproductive technologies （ART）. A cohort of 24 men with 0% NF were identified （2010-2013） with 27 randomly selected men with 〉4% NF as controls. Patient charts were reviewed with men contacted and administered an Institutional Review Board （IRB）-approved telephone questionnaire to ascertain outcomes. After a median follow-up time of 2.5 years, 29.2% of men with 0% NF did not require ART for their first pregnancy （controls = 55.6%, P〈 0.05）. When all pregnancies were analyzed together, men with 0% NF achieved twenty pregnancies of which 75% did not require IVF （controls - thirty pregnancies; 76.7% did not require IVF）. The average age of men and female partners was similar between men with 0% NF and 〉4% NF. All men had normal follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）, testosterone, prolactin, sex hormone-binding globulin （SHBG）, and estradiol. Although, global semen parameters were worse in men with 0% NF, when a first pregnancy was a natural conception （NC）, 100% of men with 0% NF （n = 7/7） and 37.5% of controls in = 3/8） went on to have a subsequent pregnancy via NC. Men with 0% NF conceived without IVF in 29.2% of cases compared to 55.6% of controls. Strict morphology should not be used to predict fertilization, pregnancy, or live birth potential. In men with 0% NF, alternative modalities should be considered before immediate IVF.

Sperm DNA Fragmentation may Influence IUI Outcome but could be Treated by ICSI: Evidence from Human Sperm Bank

Objective To determine the correlation between semen parameters, sperm DNA damage, progressive motility （PR）, morphology and intrauterine insemination （IUI）/ intracyto- plasmic sperm injection （ICSI） outcomes. Methods All the donors providing the samples in this study were recruited by Shang- hai Human Sperm Bank. For IUI, 122 donors were divided into group A （n=60） and group B （n=62）. Group A had a higher pregnancy rate while group B had a lower pregnancy rate （3.86 ± 1.50% vs 0.18 ± 0.52%）. For ICSI, 45 donors were divided into group C with a higher pregnancy rate （77. 78 ± 17.21%, n=23）, group D with a lower pregnancy rate （40. 73 ± 19.19%, n=22） and group E with an average preg- nancy rate in the sperm bank （48.96 ± 12.08%, n=23）. Semen analysis, morphology and DNA damage were assessed on samples retained in the sperm bank. Fresh semen samples were also collected and corresponding semen analyses data was included along with the pregnancy rates. Results No significant difference was found in the population characteristics between groups A and B, while there was a significant difference in sperm DNA fragmetation index （DFI） and morphology between the two groups （P〈0.05）, but not in other semen parameters （P〉0.05）. There was no significant difference in population characteristics between groups C, D and E while the DFI of group D was significant higher than groups C and E （P〈0.01）, but there was no significant difference in other semen parameters （P〉0.05）.Conclusion DFI might be a good predictor for IUI outcomes. Infertile couples with a high DFI should choose ICSI treatment instead of IUI. DFI should be a routine screening marker used to screen for sperm donors.