Comparative study between intrauterine insemination and timed intercourse as a treatment for male infertility

Objective: the objective of this study was to evaluate the role of intrauterine insemination [IUI] in treatment of male factor of infertility and also to compare it with timed natural intercourse

Setting: infertility clinic, King Abdul Aziz Specialist Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia

Patients and methods: forty couples with primary infertility due to moderate semen defects and a period of infertility of at least two years were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups. The first group comprised 20 couples, who underwent IUI using prepared semen by swim up technique, while the second group comprised 20 couples who underwent timed intercourse

Results: the results of the current study showed that there was no statistical significant difference between both groups as regard female age, male age, duration of subfertility, sperm count, motility and normal morphology of the sperms. Pregnancy rate [PR], PR/couple and PR/cycle, were significantly higher in group A when compared to group B, [P<0.05 and<0.001] respectively. There was no statistical significant difference between the occurrence of pregnancy and different semen parameters. Only, the mean duration of subfertility was significantly lower in the pregnant versus non pregnant cases P<0.05

Conclusion: it could be concluded that IUI is more effective than timed intercourse in treatment of malefactor infertility, but further studies are needed to clearly define the impact of various semen parameters on the prediction of pregnancy outcome

Maternal and neonatal blood gases in prolonged labour

This study included 60 women at term. The cases were divided into two subgroups. Control group: includes 30 women with normal labour patterns, [15 cases with normal vaginal delivery and 15 cases with elective caesarean section]. Prolonged labour group; includes 30 women with abnormal prolonged labour duration [above 18 hours], [15 cases were delivered vaginally and 15 cases by caesarean section].For each patient clinical and pelvic examinations were done. Fetal and maternal blood gases were estimated.It was apparent that the maternal and the neonatal acid-base balance shifted towards acidosis in vaginal as well as in caesarean section prolonged labour cases. When comparison was done between prolonged labour cases and normal cases, the differences were statistically significant in both the vaginal and caesarean section deliveries. In prolonged labour cases, the acid-base and electrolyte balance will be disturbed and acidosis will be more pronounced