Assessing the Effect of Semen Parameters on Pregnancy Outcome in Couples Undergoing Intrauterine Insemination for Unexplained Infertility and Male Infertility

Objective: The aim is to investigate the effect of semen parameters in predicting pregnancy outcomes in the unexplained infertility and male infertility groups among couples who received insemination within the scope of infertility treatment. Materials and methods: In our study, spermiogram data were retrospectively obtained from 57 couples diagnosed with male infertility and 251 couples diagnosed with unexplained infertility who applied to Gaziantep Cengiz Gökçek Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital ART Clinic and underwent IUI between July 2021 and July 2023, and the patient’s demographic data were used. Prior to IUI, ovulation induction with aromatase inhibitor and recombinant FSH was performed in female patients. Semen was collected from the male patient on the day of the procedure, semen analysis was performed and, semen prepared by applying the semen preparation protocol was injected into the uterus with an insemination catheter. Pregnancy in the patients was assessed by serum beta-hCG on day 14 after the procedure. Results: The positive pregnancy rate for male infertility was 10.5% and the positive pregnancy rate for unexplained infertility was 13.5%. No association was found between unexplained infertility and spermiogram parameters. In male infertility, an association was observed between TPMS density and post-wash TPMSC and pregnancy positivity (p=0.035, p=0.017 respectively). Conclusion: It has been observed that semen parameters cannot be used to predict pregnancy outcome in couples with unexplained infertility, but the calculation of TPMS density and post-wash TPMSC in the semen evaluation performed at the first visit of couples presenting to the clinic for male infertility is an important step in predicting pregnancy outcome.