Spontaneous ovulatory cycle donor insemination programme: prognostic indicators of a successful pregnancy

The effects of female and male infertility factors as well as the insemination regime on the outcome of donor insemination (DI) during 1001 spontaneous ovulatory cycles were assessed. Overall, the average monthly fecundability was 4.4% and the cumulative conception rate after nine cycles was 45%. Female DI recipients' age, nulligravidity or the presence of other infertility factors were associated with a significantly lower pregnancy rate. DI recipients of azoospermic partners had a significantly higher pregnancy rate. The likelihood of a successful pregnancy was higher when more frequent (> or = 1) inseminations were used or in association with higher cervical score and larger follicle diameter at the time of insemination. We suggest that female recipients of DI should be fully investigated before commencing DI treatment. Early resort to other methods of assisted reproduction should be considered in DI recipients aged > or = 35 years, or in younger women if they fail to conceive after nine cycles of DI. More frequent and better timing of inseminations is expected to improve the fecundability rate during spontaneous ovulatory DI cycles.