Clinical variables affecting the pregnancy rate of intracervical insemination using cryopreserved donor spermatozoa: a retrospective study in China

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate whether several clinical variables can affect the pregnancy rate of intracervical insemination [ICI] using cryopreserved donor spermatozoa. In this retrospective study, age, years of infertility, cervicitis, urinary luteinizing hormone [LH] surge, insemination number, uterus position, endometrial thickness and morphology, maximal follicle diameter, and the number of dominant follicles on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin [HCG] administration were retrospectively analyzed in 501 women who underwent their first ICI cycle using cryopreserved donor spermatozoa. Increased age, length of infertility [>5 years], retroverted uterine position, and endometrial thickness [<7 mm or >14 mm] were associated with lower rates of pregnancy. In older women with infertile periods longer than five years, especially those with a retroverted uterus, intrauterine insemination [IUI] combined with ovarian stimulation should be recommended. In vitro fertilization with donor spermatozoa [IVFD] should be offered earlier to achieve a much higher success rate.