[Intrauterine and intracervical insemination with frozen donor semen. A comparative study]

Intracervical insemination (ICI) with cryopreserved donor semen was performed in 38 women. These inseminations were performed about the time of ovulation twice per cycle in a total of 215 cycles during the period 1.1.1989 to 31.12.1990. Nine of these women became pregnant corresponding to 4% (9/215) per insemination cycle. From 1.12.1989, intrauterine insemination was introduced (IUC) with swim-up/wash-prepared cryopreserved donor semen prepared in the department. Twenty-two women who had undergone from three to 12 (average 6.1) ICI treatment cyclic without resulting pregnancy were submitted to IUI with cryopreserved donor semen at the time of ovulation once per cycle for a total of 32 cycles during the period 1.12.1989 to 31.12.1990. Ten of these (45%) became pregnant corresponding to 31% per insemination cycle. The reason for this significant improvement in the results as compared with ICI is to be found not only in alterations in the semen preparations and the technique of insemination but also in consequent employment of hormone stimulation and meticulous monitoring of the cycles. Employment of the described therapeutic schema for "programmed cycles" is recommended in order to minimize the need for resource-demanding cycle monitoring and to avoid weekend work.