Beatriz Corcóstegui

Sperm morphology analysis (strict criteria) in male infertility is not a prognostic factor in intrauterine insemination with husband's sperm.

OBJECTIVE To assess the prognostic value of strict sperm morphology analysis in intrauterine insemination with husbands sperm (IUI) cycles performed because of male infertility. DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING Academic tertiary hospital. PATIENTS Seventy-four consecutive couples subjected to 271 IUI cycles because of male infertility. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Strict morphology analysis 1 month before the beginning of IUI following the criteria of Kruger et al. RESULTS Pregnancy and no pregnancy couples were similar regarding strict normal forms (2.85% +/- 2.07% versus 3.13% +/- 2.63%), slightly amorphous forms, and the morphology index (11.79 +/- 6.06 versus 12.04 +/- 7.13). Pregnancy rates (PRs) were similar when normal forms were <4% (39.1%) or > 4% (35.7%). The PR, although higher in the group with morphology index > 10% (41.4%) than in the group < 10% (33.3%), lacked statistical significance. In pure male infertility group, mean values of morphology were similar in pregnancy and nonpregnancy group. A not significant trend was detected toward higher PRs in morphology index > 10% (50.0%) than in the group < 10% (33.3%). CONCLUSION Strict morphology analysis 1 month before the beginning of IUI is not a useful prognostic factor in IUI performed because of male infertility.

Intrauterine insemination with frozen sperm increases pregnancy rates in donor insemination cycles under gonadotropin stimulation

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy of IUI donor and pericervical insemination donor in frozen sperm insemination cycles under gonadotropin stimulation. DESIGN Couples where infertility was caused by male conditions were randomized into two groups: IUI and pericervical insemination. Semen samples, gonadotropin stimulation, and ovarian monitoring were the same in both groups. One IUI was performed per cycle as against two pericervical inseminations. SETTING The donor insemination program at the Human Reproduction Unit at the Hospital of Cruces, Pais Vasco University. PATIENTS Eighty-eight women (47 IUI and 41 pericervical insemination) with at least one patent fallopian tube and < 40 years of age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Intrauterine gestational sac observed by transvaginal ultrasound. RESULTS Per woman pregnancy rate (PR) was higher in IUI than in pericervical insemination (65.96% versus 41.46%, odds ratio [OR] = 2.73, confidence interval [CI] = 1.06 to 7.2). Pregnancy rates were always higher in IUI irrespective of woman and husbands status, but statistical significance was not reached in any subgroups analyzed independently. Per cycle PR was also significantly higher in IUI than in pericervical insemination: 24.03% (31/129) versus 11.89% (17/143) (OR = 2.34, CI = 1.17 to 4.71). Moreover, cumulative PR was higher in IUI (86% versus 49.5%) (OR = 6, CI = 1.98 to 18.80). CONCLUSION Per woman and per cycle PRs were significantly higher in IUI.

Chromosome studies in human unfertilized oocytes and uncleaved zygotes after treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs

OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency of the anomalies from the cytogenetic point of view in the oocytes remaining from our in vitro fertilization (IVF) program. Two gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRH-a) were used (buserelin acetate and leuprolide acetate) in the superovulation treatment. DESIGN A prospective study was planned in January 1989. Deadline for data and quantitative analysis was to be July 1990. SETTING Hospital de Cruces, a public and tertiary institute. PATIENTS One hundred thirty-nine IVF patients, yielding 433 oocytes. Selected on the basis of availability of oocytes and staff. RESULTS Two hundred thirty-eight oocytes (71.25%) exhibited the normal number of metaphase II chromosomes; 64 (19.16%) exhibited aneuploidy; 13 (3.89%) were diploid, hyperdiploid, or hypodiploid; and 19 (5.68%) showed parthenogenetic activation. Of the 99 zygotes, 17 were polyploid and 48 showed prematurely condensed chromosomes, whereas in 31 cases the male and female pronuclei remained separate. CONCLUSIONS It would not appear that the rate of chromosomal anomalies is affected after pituitary suppression with GnRH-a.

Spontaneous pregnancy in couples waiting for artificial insemination donor because of severe male infertility

OBJECTIVE: To assess the spontaneous fertility in couples with severe seminal conditions while waiting for artificial insemination donor. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective follow-up during a period of 24 months. SETTING: University Medical School. PARTICIPANTS: There were 285 couples in which the male had a very severe seminal pathology: 166 azoospermia, 86 oligozoospermia and 33 severe asthenozoospermia. OUTCOME MEASURES: Pregnancy rates after being included on waiting list. RESULTS: The spontaneous pregnancy rate was 3.2% (9/285), per month spontaneous pregnancy rate being 0.13%. Spontaneous pregnancy rate was 0% in azoospermia (0/166). versus 7.6% (9/119) in non-azoospermia cases. Spontaneous pregnancy rate was 8.5% (4/47) in the group with less than 0.1 million motile sperm/cc, 6.5% (3/46) in the group between 0.1 and 1 million/cc and 7.7% (2/26) in the group with 1-2 million/cc. CONCLUSION: In a 2-year follow-up, pregnancy rate among non-azoospermic couples before undergoing artificial insemination was 7.6%. Extramatrimonial pregnancy (based on anamnesis and sperm analysis) seemed to be uncommon. Even in cases with less than 0.1 million of motile sperm/cc there was not a negligible spontaneous pregnancy rate.

Ultrasound-guided artificial insemination: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND The aim was to ascertain whether using ultrasound guidance during intrauterine insemination (IUI) could increase pregnancy rates (PRs). METHODS The population under study consisted of 73 consecutive couples subjected to IUI in our Human Reproduction Unit, between June and December 2006, with a total of 231 IUI cycles performed. The patients were randomized using a computer-generated random numeric table into two groups: ultrasound-guided IUI group (n = 33) and clinical IUI group (n = 40). RESULTS The PR was 16.0% per cycle in ultrasound-guided IUI and 16.8% in the control group, no statistically significant differences being observed between the groups. The 95% confidence interval for the difference in PRs of 0.8% was -8.8 to 10. There were no differences in PR per woman, nor in first-cycle PR. The cumulative PR was also similar in both populations. Although the initial intention was to perform a study involving a larger number of cases, after a first interim analysis, the study was interrupted due to its futility. There were no differences in PR according to the different cervico-uterine angles. CONCLUSIONS Ultrasound-guided IUI does not produce better results than blind insemination, because the PR per cycle is similar. ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT00809952.

Levels of CA-19.9, CA-125, and CA-195 in seminal plasma and in vitro fertilization rates

OBJECTIVE To assess the relationship between carbohydrate tumor markers in seminal plasma and fertilization rates in IVF cycles. DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING Academic tertiary hospital. PATIENTS Forty-six consecutive couples subjected to IVF in which at least one oocyte was obtained. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Determination of CA-19.9, CA-125, and CA-195 in seminal plasma 1 week before IVF. RESULTS CA-125 was higher in the group without fertilization (321 +/- 198 U/mL, mean +/- SD) than in the group in which at least one oocyte was fertilized (155 +/- 165 U/mL), whereas CA-19.9 and CA-195 were similar in both groups. However, at the cutoff 66%, lower values of CA-19.9 were found in the fertilization group rate < 66% (707 +/- 1,217 versus 1,069 +/- 1,084) and of CA-195 (67 +/- 44 versus 218 +/- 274). No correlation was found between tumor marker levels and fertilization rates. CONCLUSION CA-125 seems to be an indicator of sperm fertilization capacity, whereas the importance of CA-195 and CA-19.9 will require further studies.

Prognostic value of serum progesterone and LH values on the day of hCG administration in IUI GnRH antagonist cycles.

Objetive: to evaluate the effect of LH surge and progesterone rise in IUI cycles under gonadotropin stimulation with GnRH antagonist coadministration on pregnancy rates (PR). Study Design: The population under study consisted of 152 women prospectively studied and subjected to IUI. Results The higher the progesterone cutoff value, the lower the PR were 26.5% and 10.9% when the cutoff was 1 ng/mL, 26.0% and 8.6% when the cutoff was 1.2 ng/mL, 25.6% and 7.1% when the cutoff was 1.4 ng/mL and 25.3% and 0% when the cutoff was 1.6 ng/mL. Conclusion: In IUI cycles under GnRH antagonist coadministration, serum progesterone levels over 1.0 ng/mL are associated with lower PR, the higher the progesterone levels, the lower the PR.

Failure of intrauterine insemination as rescue treatment in low responders with adequate HCG timing with no oocytes retrieved

In this retrospective study, the efficiency of carrying out rescue intrauterine insemination (IUI) in low-responder patients undergoing IVF when no oocytes were retrieved after follicular aspiration and when HCG timing was adequate was analysed. A historical control group was used. Over 13 years, women undergoing IVF with failure to obtain oocytes at follicular aspiration underwent rescue IUI if the following criteria were met: adequate HCG timing; one normal tube; motile sperm count after preparation over 3 million/ml; and ultrasound visualization of one to six follicles over 13 mm. The rescue IUI was carried out 1 h after follicular aspiration. Results were compared with those of a standard IUI population (5394 cycles) in the same period. Confidence intervals were calculated using Poisson 97.5% confidence upper tail limits when no event was observed in the study sample. No pregnancies were achieved among the 54 cases who underwent rescue IUI (confidence interval: 0 to 6.8%). This pregnancy rate was lower than that observed in the general IUI population (17.5%) (relative risk, 19.2). After adjusting for age and endometriosis, the relative risk was 11.7. The rescue IUI is an inefficient procedure. Its efficacy is unlikely to exceed 7% pregnancy rate per IUI.

Treatment of the Male With Follicle-Stimulating Hormone in Intrauterine Insemination With Husband's Spermatozoa: A Randomized Study

We have examined the potential of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) therapy for the male to improve pregnancy rates in intrauterine insemination (IUI) with husbands spermatozoa. A prospective randomized trial was performed in 148 couples undergoing IUI because of male subfertility. In the treatment group, 150 IU FSH were administered to the husbands, either i.m. or s.c., three times a week, starting 3 months before the beginning of IUI cycles and maintained until the fifth IUI cycle. In the control group no treatment was given. FSH therapy did not change semen parameters. The pregnancy rate per cycle was 13.47% in the FSH group versus 10.07% in the non-FSH group; the pregnancy rate per woman was 44.38% in the FSH group versus 37.18% in the non-FSH group. Although the pregnancy rate increase was > 30% per cycle and > 20% per woman, statistical significance was not achieved. The cumulative pregnancy rate was 59.20% in the FSH group versus 42.91% in the non-FSH group. The pregnancy rate outside the IUI cycle was 14.70% (10/68) in the FSH group versus 2.5% (2/80) in the non-FSH group, the difference being statistically significant. In conclusion, a non-significant trend towards higher pregnancy rates in IUI was observed in the FSH group.

Spontaneous Pregnancy in Couples Waiting for Artificial Insemination Donor Because of Severe Male Infertility

OBJECTIVE To assess the spontaneous fertility in couples with severe seminal conditions while waiting for artificial insemination donor. STUDY DESIGN Prospective follow-up during a period of 24 months. SETTING University Medical School. PARTICIPANTS There were 285 couples in which the male had a very severe seminal pathology: 166 azoospermia, 86 oligozoospermia and 33 severe asthenozoospermia. OUTCOME MEASURES Pregnancy rates after being included on waiting list. RESULTS The spontaneous pregnancy rate was 3.2% (9/285), per month spontaneous pregnancy rate being 0.13%. Spontaneous pregnancy rate was 0% in azoospermia (0/166). versus 7.6% (9/119) in non-azoospermia cases. Spontaneous pregnancy rate was 8.5% (4/47) in the group with less than 0.1 million motile sperm/cc, 6.5% (3/46) in the group between 0.1 and 1 million/cc and 7.7% (2/26) in the group with 1-2 million/cc. CONCLUSION In a 2-year follow-up, pregnancy rate among non-azoospermic couples before undergoing artificial insemination was 7.6%. Extramatrimonial pregnancy (based on anamnesis and sperm analysis) seemed to be uncommon. Even in cases with less than 0.1 million of motile sperm/cc there was not a negligible spontaneous pregnancy rate.