Ovulation induction with gonadotropins as sole treatment in infertile couples with open tubes: a randomized prospective comparison between intrauterine insemination and timed vaginal intercourse.

Objective: To assess if ovulation induction with gonadotropins alone is an appropriate treatment in couples affected by unexplained and mild male factor-related infertility and if the concomitant IUI improves the pregnancy rate (PR).

Design: Prospective and randomized trial.

Setting: Infertility Centre of Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.

Patients: Two hundred couples affected by unexplained or mild male factor-related infertility were assigned randomly to one of two treatment groups: group A (n = 100), treated with three consecutive cycles of ovulation induction with gonadotropins associated with timed vaginal intercourse; group B (n = 100), treated with three consecutive cycles of ovulation induction with gonadotropins associated with IUI.

Main Outcome Measure: Pregnancy rate.

Results: The PRs obtained with ovulation induction with gonadotropins associated with IUI were similar to those obtained with ovulation induction with gonadotropins associated with timed vaginal intercourse.

Conclusion: Ovulation induction with gonadotropins alone may be as effective as ovulation induction with gonadotropins associated with IUI in couples with unexplained and mild male factor infertility and can represent the initial treatment option for its minimal invasivity and reduced cost and organizational problems.