Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) Outcomes With Total Progressive Motile Sperm Count (TPMSC) Above and Below 5 Million.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Infertility Studies
• Sperm Analysis

Background:

• Unexplained infertility affects numerous couples worldwide.
• Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a common assisted reproductive technology.
• Predicting IUI success is crucial for effective patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the correlation between total progressive motile sperm count (TPMSC) and pregnancy outcomes in couples with unexplained infertility undergoing IUI.
• To determine a potential TPMSC threshold for successful IUI.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 122 IUI cycles from 98 couples with unexplained infertility.
• Patients were stratified into two groups based on TPMSC: <5 million and ≥5 million.
• Comparison of chemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates between groups.

Main Results:

• A TPMSC of 5 million or above was associated with significantly higher rates of chemical pregnancy (34.8%), clinical pregnancy (31.9%), and live birth (23.2%).
• Cycles with a TPMSC below 5 million resulted in no pregnancies.
• TPMSC emerged as a critical predictor of IUI success.

Conclusions:

• A TPMSC below 5 million is linked to poor IUI outcomes.
• IUI may not be cost-effective for patients with severe oligoasthenospermia (low sperm count and motility).
• In vitro fertilization (IVF) might be a more appropriate alternative for these individuals, guiding infertility treatment strategies.