Does intrauterine insemination offer an advantage to cervical cap insemination in a donor insemination program?

OBJECTIVE

To compare pregnancy outcome after IUI versus cervical cap insemination in a donor insemination program.

DESIGN

A randomized prospective clinical trial in which patients were alternately inseminated with cryopreserved human semen using either IUI or cervical cap insemination methods.

SETTING

The donor insemination program at Washington University School of Medicine.

PATIENTS

Forty-two women with either isolated male factor or male factor plus corrected ovulatory dysfunction using clomiphene citrate underwent 141 cycles of donor insemination.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Clinical pregnancy rates (PRs) defined as a viable intrauterine gestation > 12 weeks or delivered were compared between groups using the chi 2 test.

RESULTS

Clinical PRs were significantly higher in the IUI group (16.4%) compared with the cervical cap insemination group (5.9%). The spontaneous abortion rates were similar between the IUI (1.4%) and cervical cap insemination groups (4.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest an advantage to IUI over cervical cap insemination in a donor insemination program.