The effect of preserving prepared sperm samples at room temperature or at 37 °C before intrauterine insemination (IUI) on clinical pregnancy rate

Abstract

Objective:The comparison of the effect of preserving prepared sperm samples at room temperature or at 37 °C before intrauterine insemination (IUI) on clinical pregnancy rate.Materials and Methods:Retrospective clinical research. University hospital, infertility clinic. Patients with one or two follicles, between the ages of 20 and 40, whose infertility period was less than 6 years and the injected total motile sperm count was more than 10 million. Preserving sperm samples prepared for IUI at 37 ºC or at room temperature before IUI.The clinical pregnancy rate of IUI cycles between 1st of January 2004 and 1st of December 2011 in which prepared sperm samples were preserved at 37 ºC and the clinical pregnancy rate of IUI cycles between 1st of December 2011 and 31st of May 2014 in which prepared sperm samples preserved at room temperature.Results:Clinical pregnancy rates were similar in IUI cycles in which prepared sperm samples were preserved at 37 ºC and at room temperature (9.3% vs. 8.9%). Clinical pregnancy rates in IUI cycles with 2 follicles were higher than IUI cycles with 1 follicle (10.8% vs. 7.6%) (p=0.002). Further statistical analysis after splitting data according to the number of the follicles revealed that there was no statistical difference between clinical pregnancy rates after IUI cycles in which prepared sperm samples were preserved at 37 ºC or at room temperature in both one follicle (7.6% vs. 7.6%), and two follicle cycles (11.5% vs. 10.1%).Conclusions:Preserving prepared sperm samples at room temperature had no negative effect on clinical pregnancy rates when compared with reserving prepared sperm samples at 37 ºC during IUI cycles.

Does the time interval from the end of sperm processing to intrauterine insemination (lab‐to‐uterus time) affect treatment outcome?

“…15 Cok et al found no difference in pregnancy rates between the storage of prepared sperms for insemination at 37 • C in comparison to room temperature. 16 Only a few studies were performed in order to find the effect of sperm incubation duration between preparation and IUI on the outcome. 4,11 Koyun et al reported that sperm parameters were negatively affected from prolonged post washing time.…”

“…4 Cok et al found that the highest pregnancy rates were obtained when the sperm samples were allowed to stand at 37 • C for an interval longer than 30 min. 16 None of these studies examined the real-life situation in which the sperm sample prepared for IUI is standing for a prolonged time at room temperature. Several hypotheses can explain our main finding that prolongation of room temperature exposure of the prepared sperm sample is not detrimental.…”

“…Cok et al. found no difference in pregnancy rates between the storage of prepared sperms for insemination at 37°C in comparison to room temperature 16 …”

Intrauterine Insemination: Fundamentals Revisited

“…Further statistical analysis after splitting data according to the number of the follicles revealed that there was no statistical difference between clinical pregnancy rates after IUI cycles in which prepared sperm samples were preserved at 37°C or at room temperature in both one-follicle (7.6 vs. 7.6%) and two-follicle cycles (11.5 vs. 10.1%). Preserving prepared sperm samples at room temperature had no negative effect on clinical pregnancy rates when compared with preserving prepared sperm samples at 37°C during IUI cycles [37].…”

“…Ç ok et al reported on the comparison of the effect of preserving prepared sperm samples at room temperature or at 37°C before intrauterine insemination (IUI) on clinical pregnancy rate [37]. Clinical pregnancy rates were similar in IUI cycles in which prepared sperm samples were preserved at 37°C and at room temperature (9.3 vs. 8.9%).…”