Homologous artificial insemination. A reappraisal.

Homologous artificial insemination (AIH), with the use of a split-ejaculate technique, was performed in 62 couples following a complete infertility investigation. Fifty per cent of all men had a sperm count less than 50 million per milliliter and 80 per cent had sperm motility less than 50 per cent. More important, 85 per cent of the initial semen samples had greater than 40 per cent abnormal forms and liquefaction was delayed beyond 20 minutes in 67 per cent of specimen. The pregnancy rate for the 28 women who underwent the prescribed course of six or more inseminations was 46.4 per cent, for the group of 60 who received split-ejaculate AIH, 21.6 per cent; and for the entire group of 62 couples, 24.2 per cent. In the split-ejaculate group 50 per cent of the pregnancies resulted in first-trimester abortions. It is suggested that the pregnancy wastage in these couples might be due to male factors.