Cervical cap homologous artificial insemination (AIH): the University of Florence experience

We report our experience with artificial insemination with husband's semen (AIH) using cervical cap. Forty-four couples were admitted to our AIH program over a two-year period. In 4 couples, AIH was performed due to impotence or hypospadia, while in the remaining 40 couples indications for AIH were abnormal semen, poor post-coital test, anti-sperm antibodies, poor cervical mucus. Overall, six pregnancies were obtained (pregnancy rate = 15%) in the latter group; in particular, AIH was able to elicit pregnancy in 5 out of the 25 cases of abnormal semen (20%). Our data emphasize the importance of female factors associated with infertility since significantly higher pregnancy rates (45.4% versus 0%) were observed in subjects in whom these factors were absent.