Cryopreservation of the occasionally improved semen samples for intrauterine insemination: a new approach in the treatment of idiopathic male infertility.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the value of treating idiopathic male infertility by intrauterine insemination (IUI) of the occasionally improved cryopreserved semen.

DESIGN

Two groups of idiopathic oligospermic patients were chosen at random and treated by IUI using processed fresh semen in group A and the best available cryopreserved semen samples pooled with fresh samples in group B.

SETTING

Egyptian IVF-ET Centre, Maadi, CAiro, Egypt.

PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: One hundred fifty infertile couples because of idiopathic oligoasthenospermia.

INTERVENTION

Intrauterine insemination.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The pregnancy rate was evaluated after an average of three treatment cycles.

RESULTS

The pregnancy rate (PR) was significantly higher in group B when compared with group A. The improvement in the PR was highly significant in the subgroup of patients for whom reasonable semen samples could be collected and cryopreserved.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates that IUI with fresh semen pooled with cryopreserved occasionally improved semen samples for the treatment of oligoasthenospermia results in an improved PR.