The value of fallopian tube sperm perfusion in the management of mild-moderate male factor infertility.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether fallopian tube sperm perfusion (FSP) would improve pregnancy rates compared with standard intrauterine insemination (IUI) in cases of male factor infertility.

METHODS

In a randomized controlled trial at a university teaching hospital in Egypt, 120 couples with mild or moderate male factor infertility underwent a mild controlled ovarian stimulation protocol (clomiphene citrate plus human menopausal gonadotropin). Women were randomly allocated to group 1 (FSP via Foley catheter with 4 mL of inseminate) or group 2 (standard IUI with 0.5 mL of inseminate) (n=60 for both). The main outcome measure was clinical pregnancy rate.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of baseline clinical characteristics, semen parameters, or characteristics of stimulation cycles. The pregnancy rate was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (16 [26.7%] vs 7 [11.7%]; P<0.04). There was no significant difference in the incidence of multiple pregnancy, abortion, or ectopic pregnancy between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Fallopian tube sperm perfusion is an effective technique in the management of mild-moderate male factor infertility and should, therefore, be considered before resorting to more sophisticated techniques of assisted reproduction.