Pregnancy rates after slow-release insemination (SRI) and standard bolus intrauterine insemination (IUI) – A multicentre randomised, controlled trial

• Published in: Scientific reports 2020-05, Vol.10 (1), p.7719-7719, Article 7719
• Main Authors: Marschalek, Julian, Egarter, Christian, Vytiska-Binsdorfer, Elisabeth, Obruca, Andreas, Campbell, Jackie, Harris, Philip, van Santen, Maarten, Lesoine, Bernd, Ott, Johannes, Franz, Maximilian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 692/308/2779/109; 692/699/2732; Adolescent; Adult; Artificial insemination; Chorionic gonadotropin; Chorionic Gonadotropin - metabolism; Female; Fertilization in Vitro - methods; Gonadotropins; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Infertility; Infertility - pathology; Infertility - therapy; Insemination, Artificial - methods; Live Birth - epidemiology; Male; multidisciplinary; Pituitary (anterior); Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Statistical analysis; Tissue Donors; Uterus; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64164-4

This multicentre, randomised, controlled cross-over trial was designed to investigate the effect of intra-uterine slow-release insemination (SRI) on pregnancy rates in women with confirmed infertility or the need for semen donation who were eligible for standard bolus intra-uterine insemination (IUI). Data for a total of 182 women were analysed after randomisation to receive IUI (n = 96) or SRI (n = 86) first. The primary outcome was serological pregnancy defined by a positive beta human chorionic gonadotropin test, two weeks after insemination. Patients who did not conceive after the first cycle switched to the alternative technique for the second cycle: 44 women switched to IUI and 58 switched to SRI. In total, there were 284 treatment cycles (IUI: n = 140; SRI: n = 144). Pregnancy rates following SRI and IUI were 13.2% and 10.0%, respectively, which was not statistically significant (p = 0.202). A statistically significant difference in pregnancy rates for SRI versus IUI was detected in women aged under 35 years. In this subgroup, the pregnancy rate with SRI was 17% compared to 7% with IUI (relative risk 2.33; p = 0.032) across both cycles. These results support the hypothesis that the pregnancy rate might be improved with SRI compared to standard bolus IUI, especially in women aged under 35 years.