Role of Piroxicam in Improving Success of Intrauterine Insemination Cycles [ID 1012]

INTRODUCTION: Infertlity is a distressing problem. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a low-cost, simple method for its treatment. Piroxicam may help to improve success rates of IUI by making the uterus quiescent. METHODS: The study was conducted in the infertility unit of King George Medical University, Lucknow, India. Institutional ethical approval was obtained. The study was registered in the clinical trials registry CTRI/2023/03/051139, trial number REF/2023/01/062157. All women with unexplained infertility, eligible for IUI, and giving consent were enrolled. Women with a history of gastrointestinal bleeding or allergy to piroxicam were excluded. Ovarian stimulation was done as per protocol and IUI was performed 36–40 hours after trigger. Using computer-generated random numbers, women were divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group was given tablet piroxicam, 10 mg daily, on days 4, 5, and 6 of IUI in addition to luteal phase support with progesterone. The control group was only given progesterone. All women were followed up for occurrence of pregnancy. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-six women were enrolled (94 in intervention and 92 in control group). The demographic parameters and ovarian reserve were comparable in both groups. There were eight pregnancies (8.5%) in the intervention group, of which one aborted at 8 weeks and seven were continuing beyond 20 weeks. In the control group, there were only two pregnancies (2.2%), both of which were continuing beyond 20 weeks. This difference was statistically significant ( P <.05). CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Administration of piroxicam after IUI is beneficial in improving success rates of IUI.