Does intrauterine insemination timing matter for achieving pregnancy during ovulation induction using gonadotropins? A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a commonly used procedure to increase the infertile couples' chance of pregnancy. Single or double insemination and different timing choices are modifications of this intervention. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of the IUI procedure on clinical pregnancy rates when performed at 24 hours or 36 hours after ovulation triggered by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) following ovulation induction with gonadotropins. METHODS: One hundred and thirteen women diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) (as per Rotterdam's criteria) or unexplained infertility, who were treated using gonadotropins for ovulation induction and IUI for increasing fertilization potential, were recruited from the medical records of the infertility clinic. Demographic features, cycle outcomes, and clinical pregnancy rates of the patients were compared based on two different timing strategies of IUI (24 hours and 36 hours) following ovulation trigger using hCG. RESULTS: Clinical pregnancy rates per cycle were 22.9% in the PCOS group and 26.9% in the unexplained group. The clinical pregnancy rates according to the timing of IUI were found to be similar for PCOS patients, unlike patients with unexplained infertility whose clinical pregnancy rates were significantly better when the IUI procedure was performed 24 hours following the hCG trigger. The cycle day of hCG trigger was also found to be significantly related to clinical pregnancy rate as utilizing a later hCG trigger day appeared to positively affect the odds of clinical pregnancy establishment. CONCLUSION: IUI performed at either 24 hours or 36 hours after ovulation triggered by hCG injection does not change clinical pregnancy rates for PCOS patients. Patients with unexplained infertility seem to benefit from earlier IUI procedures, which increases their fertility potential during ovulation induction with gonadotropins. Avoiding earlier than physiologically needed artificial-hCG triggering before IUI procedures results with better pregnancy rates.

Which is the best intrauterine insemination timing choice following exogenous hCG administration during ovulation induction by using clomiphene citrate treatment? A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of intrauterine insemination timing performed 24 or 36 h later following ovulation trigger on clinical pregnancy rate during ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate among infertile women was the objective of this study. METHODS: The medical records of 280 infertile patients who have underwent ovulation induction by using clomiphene citrate have been evaluated and cycle outcomes of the patients have been investigated specifically based on the timing of intrauterine insemination during the treatment cycle. RESULTS: The clinical pregnancy rate of the study group based on the timing of intrauterine insemination (24 vs. 36 h following hCG trigger) was found to be similar regardless of infertility type. The cycle day of which hCG trigger has been performed was found to be significantly longer for patients who have achieved clinical pregnancy than patients who have not got pregnant following the treatment cycle. Dominant follicle diameter has not been found to affect clinical pregnancy rate during treatment cycles with clomiphene citrate. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, intrauterine insemination timing did not affect the cycle outcomes whether the procedure has been performed 24 or 36 h later following ovulation trigger with exogenous hCG utilization. The longer period of treatment cycle during ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate resulted with higher clinical pregnancy rate. Intrauterine insemination can be done successfully at either 24 or 36 h after hCG in clomiphene citrate stimulated cycles. This will allow more flexibility and convenience for both physicians and patients, especially during weekends.

The association of thiol/disulphide homeostasis and lipid accumulation index with cardiovascular risk factors in overweight adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess thiol/disulphide homeostasis and lipid accumulation product index, and to determine whether they are associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk or not in overweight adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Education and Research Hospital. PATIENTS: Group 1: 43 overweight+PCOS, Group 2: 45 normal weight+PCOS, Group 3: 27 overweight adolescents and Group 4: 96 age-matched, normal weight healthy controls. INTERVENTIONS: Serum lipid profiles, hormonal parameters and thiol/disulphide homeostasis were measured. Lipid accumulation index (LAP index) and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) were calculated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The relation between thiol/disulphide homeostasis and LAP index, and increased CVD risk were evaluated in overweight adolescents with PCOS. RESULTS: Native and total thiol levels were significantly lower in overweight+PCOS adolescents when compared with both normal weight PCOS and control adolescents (P = 0·002). LAP index values were significantly higher in Group 1 when compared separately with the rest of the three groups (P < 0·001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed serum total thiol levels of lower than 405·45 µmol/l were independently associated with increased risk of CVD in overweight PCOS adolescents (OR: 1·019, 95% CI: 1·001-1·036). In addition, a LAP index greater than 21·54 was also associated with increased CVD risk in overweight PCOS adolescents (OR: 1·270, 95% CI: 1·174-1·374). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we suggest that increased LAP index and decreased total thiol levels may contribute to the increased CVD risk in overweight adolescents with PCOS.