Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with or without intrauterine insemination for the treatment of unexplained infertility.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether there are any benefits from intrauterine insemination (IUI) as opposed to timed intercourse (TI) in stimulated ovarian cycles in couples with longstanding, unexplained infertility.

METHODS

Forty-six couples with diagnoses of unexplained infertility were evaluated in a crossover study after a total of 141 cycles. Sixty-seven cycles were with IUI after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) while 74 cycles were after COH and TI.

RESULTS

The pregnancy rate after COH/TI was 16.7% and after COH/IUI 45.2%. Cycle fecundity however was 8.9% after COH/TI and 25.7% after COH/IUI, which is a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

A trial of human menopausal gonadotropin and IUI is justified in couples with prolonged infertility of unknown cause.