Twenty-one year experience with intrauterine inseminations after controlled ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins: maternal age is the only prognostic factor for success
Open accessAbstract
Purpose To report our experience on homologous intrauterine insemination (IUI) with gonadotropin controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) cycles and to examine different variables which could predict IUI success. Materials and methods This is a retrospective analysis of IUIs performed between January 1997 and December 2017. A total of 7359 COS IUI's procedures (2901 couples) were reviewed. Clinical pregnancy, live birth rate and age, body mass index (BMI), smoking habit, duration of infertility, sperm characteristics before and after treatment (total motile count, morphology, and vitality), day 3 FSH, total gonadotropin dose, and number of follicles were assessed by multivariate logistic regression analysis, and data were expressed as odds ratio (OR). Results The mean female age at the time of COS was 35.10 ± 3.93 years. The most common single infertility diagnoses were unexplained infertility (53.55%), mild male factor (19.69%), and anovulation (10.95%). The total progressive motile sperm count (TPMC) was > 1 × 10 6/ml (mean 1.34 ± 1.08 × 10 6/ml). The clinical pregnancy rate was 9.38%, and the live birth rate was 7.19% per cycle. Twin pregnancies were 12.17%. Cumulative pregnancy was 21.89% and cumulative live birth rate was 17.58% per couple. Clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were significantly associated with female age [OR 0.97 (95% CI 0.95-0.99) and 0.95 (95% CI 0.93-0.97), respectively] and day 3 FSH [OR 0.91 (95% CI 0.87-0.94) e 0.90 (95% CI 0.87-0.94), respectively]. Conclusions Clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rates after COS-IUIs were significantly influenced by female age and FSH levels. Trial registration Clinical trial registration number: NCT03836118.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The finding that sperm morphology had no impact on pregnancy rates after IUI was confirmed later on a larger cohort.
“This finding was confirmed later on a larger cohort [75].”
From Recommendations for Human Sperm Morphology Assessment in 2025: An Expert Review From the French BLEFCO Group (2026) · cites this paper as [75]
The Discussion reports that semen parameters, including the morphology assessed in Methods, showed no impact on clinical outcomes in this large IUI cohort, provided post-treatment sperm counts met the study’s eligibility threshold. But the Results also report significantly better pretreatment normal morphology in the pregnant group. The unqualified claim therefore misses both the univariable finding and the study’s restriction. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Goverde, A. J., McDonnell, J., Vermeiden, J. P., Schats, R., Rutten, F. F., & Schoemaker, J. (2000) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(99)04002-7 · Cited by 453 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 32
- [1]Templeton A. Infertility-epidemiology, aetiology and effective management. Health Bull (Edinb) 1995;53:294–298. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- [3]Ombelet W. The revival of intrauterine insemination: evidence-based data have changed the picture. Facts Views Vis Obgyn. 2017;9:131–132. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- [4]Cohlen B, Bijkerk A, Van der Poel S, Ombelet W. IUI: review and systematic assessment of the evidence that supports global recommendations. Hum Reprod Update. 2018;24:300–319. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmx041. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [5]Group ECW Intrauterine insemination. Hum Reprod Update. 2009;15:265–277. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmp003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [6]O'Flynn N. Assessment and treatment for people with fertility problems: NICE guideline. Br J Gen Pract. 2014;64:50–51. doi: 10.3399/bjgp14X676609. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [7]Bhattacharya S, Harrild K, Mollison J, Wordsworth S, Tay C, Harrold A, et al. Clomifene citrate or unstimulated intrauterine insemination compared with expectant management for unexplained infertility: pragmatic randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2008;337:a716. doi: 10.1136/bmj.a716. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [8]Reindollar RH, Regan MM, Neumann PJ, Levine BS, Thornton KL, Alper MM, Goldman MB. A randomized clinical trial to evaluate optimal treatment for unexplained infertility: the fast track and standard treatment (FASTT) trial. Fertil Steril. 2010;94:888–899. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.04.022. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [9]Wordsworth S, Buchanan J, Mollison J, Harrild K, Robertson L, Tay C, Harrold A, McQueen D, Lyall H, Johnston L, Burrage J, Grossett S, Walton H, Lynch J, Johnstone A, Kini S, Raja A, Templeton A, Bhattacharya S. Clomifene citrate and intrauterine insemination as first-line treatments for unexplained infertility: are they cost-effective? Hum Reprod. 2011;26:369–375. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deq315. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [10]Farquhar CM, Liu E, Armstrong S, Arroll N, Lensen S, Brown J. Intrauterine insemination with ovarian stimulation versus expectant management for unexplained infertility (TUI): a pragmatic, open-label, randomised, controlled, two-Centre trial. Lancet. 2018;391:441–450. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32406-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [11]Nandi A, El-Toukhy T. Stimulated intrauterine insemination for unexplained subfertility. Lancet. 2018;391:404–405. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)33038-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [12]Bensdorp AJ, Tjon-Kon-Fat RI, Bossuyt PM, Koks CA, Oosterhuis GJ, Hoek A, et al. Prevention of multiple pregnancies in couples with unexplained or mild male subfertility: randomised controlled trial of in vitro fertilisation with single embryo transfer or in vitro fertilisation in modified natural cycle compared with intrauterine insemination with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. BMJ. 2015;350:g7771. doi: 10.1136/bmj.g7771. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [13]Tjon-Kon-Fat RI, Bensdorp AJ, Bossuyt PM, Koks C, Oosterhuis GJ, Hoek A, Hompes P, Broekmans FJ, Verhoeve HR, de Bruin JP, van Golde R, Repping S, Cohlen BJ, Lambers MD, van Bommel P, Slappendel E, Perquin D, Smeenk J, Pelinck MJ, Gianotten J, Hoozemans DA, Maas JW, Groen H, Eijkemans MJ, van der Veen F, Mol BW, van Wely M. Is IVF-served two different ways-more cost-effective than IUI with controlled ovarian hyperstimulation? Hum Reprod. 2015;30:2331–2339. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dev193. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [14]Luco SM, Agbo C, Behr B, Dahan MH. The evaluation of pre and post processing semen analysis parameters at the time of intrauterine insemination in couples diagnosed with male factor infertility and pregnancy rates based on stimulation agent. A retrospective cohort study. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2014;179:159–162. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2014.05.003. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [15]Dinelli L, Courbière B, Achard V, Jouve E, Deveze C, Gnisci A, Grillo JM, Paulmyer-Lacroix O. Prognosis factors of pregnancy after intrauterine insemination with the husband's sperm: conclusions of an analysis of 2,019 cycles. Fertil Steril. 2014;101:994–1000. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.01.009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [16]Zegers-Hochschild F, Adamson GD, de Mouzon J, Ishihara O, Mansour R, Nygren K, Sullivan E, Vanderpoel S, International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology. World Health Organization International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology (ICMART) and the World Health Organization (WHO) revised glossary of ART terminology, 2009. Fertil Steril. 2009;92:1520–1524. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.09.009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [17]Zegers-Hochschild F, Adamson GD, Dyer S, Racowsky C, de Mouzon J, Sokol R, Rienzi L, Sunde A, Schmidt L, Cooke ID, Simpson JL, van der Poel S. The international glossary on infertility and fertility care, 2017. Fertil Steril. 2017;108:393–406. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.06.005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI · Paper page
- [18]Duran HE, Morshedi M, Kruger T, Oehninger S. Intrauterine insemination: a systematic review on determinants of success. Hum Reprod Update. 2002;8:373–384. doi: 10.1093/humupd/8.4.373. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [20]Campana A, Sakkas D, Stalberg A, Bianchi PG, Comte I, Pache T, Walker D. Intrauterine insemination: evaluation of the results according to the woman's age, sperm quality, total sperm count per insemination and life table analysis. Hum Reprod. 1996;11:732–736. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a019244. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [21]Thijssen A, Creemers A, Van der Elst W, Creemers E, Vandormael E, Dhont N, et al. Predictive value of different covariates influencing pregnancy rate following intrauterine insemination with homologous semen: a prospective cohort study. Reprod BioMed Online. 2017;34:463–472. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2017.01.016. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI · Paper page
- [22]Wiser A, Shalom-Paz E, Reinblatt SL, Son WY, Das M, Tulandi T, Holzer H. Ovarian stimulation and intrauterine insemination in women aged 40 years or more. Reprod BioMed Online. 2012;24:170–173. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2011.11.007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [23]Merviel P, Heraud MH, Grenier N, Lourdel E, Sanguinet P, Copin H. Predictive factors for pregnancy after intrauterine insemination (IUI): an analysis of 1038 cycles and a review of the literature. Fertil Steril. 2010;93:79–88. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.09.058. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [25]Soria M, Pradillo G, García J, Ramón P, Castillo A, Jordana C, Paricio P. Pregnancy predictors after intrauterine insemination: analysis of 3012 cycles in 1201 couples. J Reprod Infertil. 2012;13:158–166. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- [26]Collins JA, Burrows EA, Wilan AR. The prognosis for live birth among untreated infertile couples. Fertil Steril. 1995;64:22–28. doi: 10.1016/S0015-0282(16)57650-X. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [27]Snick HK, Snick TS, Evers JL, Collins JA. The spontaneous pregnancy prognosis in untreated subfertile couples: the Walcheren primary care study. Hum Reprod. 1997;12:1582–1588. doi: 10.1093/humrep/12.7.1582. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [28]Nuojua-Huttunen S, Tomas C, Bloigu R, Tuomivaara L, Martikainen H. Intrauterine insemination treatment in subfertility: an analysis of factors affecting outcome. Hum Reprod. 1999;14:698–703. doi: 10.1093/humrep/14.3.698. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [30]Merviel P, Cabry R, Lourdel E, Barbier F, Scheffler F, Mansouri N, Devaux A, Benkhalifa M, Copin H. Intrauterine insemination. Rev Prat. 2014;64:87–91. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- [31]Cabry-Goubet R, Scheffler F, Belhadri-Mansouri N, Belloc S, Lourdel E, Devaux A, et al. Effect of gonadotropin types and indications on homologous intrauterine insemination success: a study from 1251 cycles and a review of the literature. Biomed Res Int. 2017;2017:3512784. doi: 10.1155/2017/3512784. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [32]Vlahos NF, Coker L, Lawler C, Zhao Y, Bankowski B, Wallach EE. Women with ovulatory dysfunction undergoing ovarian stimulation with clomiphene citrate for intrauterine insemination may benefit from administration of human chorionic gonadotropin. Fertil Steril. 2005;83:1510–1516. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.11.049. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [33]van Weert JM, Repping S, Van Voorhis BJ, van der Veen F, Bossuyt PM, Mol BW. Performance of the postwash total motile sperm count as a predictor of pregnancy at the time of intrauterine insemination: a meta-analysis. Fertil Steril. 2004;82:612–620. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.01.042. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI · Paper page
- [34]Mankus EB, Holden AE, Seeker PM, Kampschmidt JC, McLaughlin JE, Schenken RS, Knudtson JF. Prewash total motile count is a poor predictor of live birth in intrauterine insemination cycles. Fertil Steril. 2019;111:708–713. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.12.025. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [35]Pereira N. Total motile count as predictor of live birth in intrauterine insemination cycles. Fertil Steril. 2019;111:674. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.02.026. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] · DOI
- [36]Bensdorp AJ, Cohlen BJ, Heineman MJ, Vandekerckhove P. Intra-uterine insemination for male subfertility. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;(4):CD000360. 10.1002/14651858.CD000360.pub4. [DOI] [PubMed] · DOI
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Gatimel, N., Barbotin, A., Mery, L., Beauvillard, D., Bendayan, M., Boursier, A., Boueilh, T., Pereira, B., Chammas, J., Jacquet, J., et al. (2026) · Andrology · doi:10.1111/andr.70134 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
- Authors
- Immediata, V., Patrizio, P., Parisen Toldin, M. R., Morenghi, E., Ronchetti, C., Cirillo, F., Baggiani, A., Albani, E., & Levi-Setti, P. E.
- Affiliations
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital (IT)
- Yale University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Levi-Setti, Paolo Emanuele
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
- Published
- 2020-03-25
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1195-1201
- ISSN
- 0740-7769 (ISSN-L)
- 1058-0468
- 1573-7330
- PMC
- PMC7244676
- OpenAlex
- W3013713001
- Cited by
- 24
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 3.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Reproductive Health and Technologies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Biology and Fertility
- Keywords
- intrauterine insemination, controlled ovarian stimulation, gonadotropins, maternal age, day 3 FSH, clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate, sperm motility, sperm morphology, body mass index, smoking, infertility duration, twin pregnancy, cumulative live birth rate
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Fertilization in Vitro, Gonadotropins, Ovarian Follicle, Humans, Infertility, Female, Insemination, Artificial, Male, Maternal Age, Ovulation Induction, Pregnancy, Prognosis, Spermatozoa, Pregnancy Rate, Live Birth
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review