Effect of inseminated volume on intrauterine insemination.

PURPOSE: Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a method for the treatment of marital infertility involving the intrauterine or fallopian deposition of washed spermatozoa, depending on the amount of inseminated semen. In view of the divergent opinions about the inseminated volume, the objective of this study was to compare the two techniques (3.0 mL or 0.5 mL) in two groups of patients. METHODS: We performed 164 cycles of ovulation induction followed by IUI. The patients were divided into two groups according to the technique used. Group low volume--50 cycles and 0.5 mL of inseminated semen; Group high volume--114 cycles and 3.0 mL of inseminated semen. The cycle was monitored on the basis of endometrial thickness and follicular development measured by transvaginal ultrasound. Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) was administered in the presence of a follicle measuring 18 mm in mean diameter. The procedure was performed after sperm washing using a discontinuous PureSperm gradient, 40 h later. RESULTS: We obtained a similar clinical pregnancy rate for the two groups (14.0% for Group low volume and 15.7% for Group high volume). There was one abortion in each group. We detected no interference by any etiology of infertility or by the total motile recovered sperm with pregnancy rate. CONCLUSIONS: The results did not demonstrate superiority of one method over the other, with both therapeutic alternatives being satisfactory for the treatment of infertile couples.

The addition of fructose or sodium citrate does not improve recovery rates of cryopreserved human spermatozoa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of the addition of sodium citrate and/or fructose to medium containing egg yolk, glycerol and TEST buffer (TES(N-tris[hydroxymethyl] methyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) plus Tris (hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane) on human sperm cryopreservation. DESIGN: Sperm cryopreservation in three cryoprotective media, followed by thawing 3 weeks or 3 months later. SETTING: University outpatient clinic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-two semen samples from fertile men were evaluated before and after freezing for 3 weeks or 3 months in three different cryoprotective media consisting of a stock solution (TEST-YOLK) to which 20% sodium citrate was added plus 2% fructose (TESTC I) or to which 20% sodium citrate, but no fructose, was added (TESTC-II).I MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Measurements of quantitative sperm motility, progressive motility, vitality and recovery rates before and after freezing. RESULTS: Before freezing, the addition of the different media increased sperm progressive motility but did not change quantitative motility or vitality. Sample freezing reduced all the above variables both after 3 weeks and after 3 months, with no difference between the two freezing times. Semen analysis two hours after thawing showed a significant fall in both motility and vitality when compared with samples analyzed immediately after thawing. No significant differences in recovery rates were observed between media or within the same medium when the two freezing times (3 weeks and 3 months) were compared. CONCLUSION: The addition of sodium citrate and/or fructose to the cryoprotective medium does not improve sperm motility or vitality after freezing.

A new method for sampling maternal blood in the placental intervillous space.

The intervillous space (IVS) is part of the histofunctional unit of the human placenta and by being a fetal-maternal exchange interface is an important subject of study for the understanding of fetal physiology, especially in nutritional investigations. A method developed for the collection of IVS blood has permitted to evaluate the fetal-maternal exchanges in an effective manner. Two disadvantages of this method, however, are the mixing of IVS blood and fetal blood and marked hemolysis. In the present study we introduce and describe some modifications of this method using a single stylet for the perforation of the chorionic plate which simplifies collection and reduces the chance of mixing and hemolysis of the samples obtained.