A recent prospective cohort study has reported that cycle pregnancy rates (CPR) are better with single intrauterine insemination (IUI) timed post ovulation, compared to pre-ovulation, in patients with non-male infertility. However, pre-ovulation double IUI, compared to single IUI, was seen to offer better CPR for male factor-related infertility. Continue Reading

The in vitro production of pure FSH using recombinant DNA technology (rFSH) with high batch-to-batch consistency has led to it being considered as a better alternative to urinary FSH. A new systemic review and meta-analysis reports that use of rFSH is associated with an increased pregnancy rate (PR) per IUI cycle compared to the same dose of highly purified urinary FSH (HP-FSH). Interestingly, the PRs were comparable on using 50% reduced dose of rFSH. Continue Reading

Earlier studies have suggested different methods, such as hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test, mechanical touch and laser touch techniques, and pentoxifylline (PF) addition, for the selection of viable sperms from testicular biopsy samples, in order to improve ART outcomes. A recent open, comparative, prospective study has reiterated that selecting viable sperms using the PF method is superior to the HOS test with regard to fertilization and pregnancy rates. The findings were published in the recent issue of the journal, Fertility and Sterility. Continue Reading

Low chromatin packaging quality in morphologically normal spermatozoa is one of the important factors that lower the fertilization capability of the sperm. Therefore, evaluating DNA integrity is essential to determine actual sperm fertility potential. A recent prospective study published in Fertility and Sterility provides new evidence that DNA integrity analysis using alkaline comet assay may be beneficial in diagnosing male infertility and predicting IVF outcomes. Continue Reading

Sperm washing alone may aid in reducing the risk of transmitting HIV infection to the partner and offspring; however, several studies have noted that HIV titers could still be significant in around 4-6% of washed sperm samples. A team of US researchers have reported the potential of an improved sperm washing method, which includes the use of a microbicide, polyanionic microbicide (PPCM), and extracellular Ca²⁺ in the washing media, in significantly lowering the HIV infectivity compared to traditional washing techniques. The study findings are published in the journal, ISRN Obstetrics and Gynecology. Continue Reading

A team of US researchers has reported declining pregnancy rates in patients undergoing infertility treatment of more than two cycles of medication only, and two and three cycles of IVF and IUI, respectively. The findings of the prospective cohort study have been published in the journal, Fertility and Sterility. Continue Reading

A recent retrospective analysis, the findings of which were published in the journal, Human Reproduction, reports that performing additional rounds of hybridization during fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) improves the accuracy of the technique in preimplantation genetic aneuploidy screening (PGS), thereby increasing the number of competent embryos available for transfer. Continue Reading

Follicular rupture may usually occur between 22 to 47 hours following hCG administration in patients undergoing IUI. Due to this wide interval, the underlying principle for double IUI is the creation of a longer fertilization period. A recent single-centered randomized trial reiterated that there is no statistically significant difference in the rates of live births between single and double IUI in ovarian hyperstimulation cycles with multi-follicular development. Claimed to be the first randomized trial comparing single versus double IUI, the study findings have been published in the journal, Human Reproduction. Continue Reading

Numerous studies have documented apoptotic markers to be one of the major contributors to ART failure. Now, a study reports that the application of magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) for sperm preparation could reduce spermatozoa-associated apoptotic marker levels, and enhance acrosome reaction and fertilization potential in unexplained infertility (UI) and multiple intrauterine insemination (IUI) failure patients. The findings of the study are published in the recent issue of the journal, Human Reproduction. Continue Reading

There are contradicting reports about the usefulness of hydrotubation prior to intrauterine insemination (IUI), a technique which is supposed to aid in removing luminal debris and decreasing reocclusion of the fallopian tube, and thereby improve chances of pregnancy in infertility patients. Now, a prospective randomized study highlights that hydrotubation done before intrauterine insemination (IUI), does not increase pregnancy rates in patients with unexplained infertility. The study findings have been published in the latest online issue of Reproductive BioMedicine Online. Continue Reading