Effects of cryopreserved semen quality and timed intrauterine insemination on pregnancy rate and gender of offspring in a donor insemination program.

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to study the relationship among cryopreserved donor semen quality, pregnancy rates, and preconception sex selection after intrauterine insemination.

METHODS

We reviewed the records of the 203 women in our donor insemination program from 1987 to 1994 who became pregnant after more than one insemination cycle and had no female-factor infertility. They were categorized according to the number of cycles required for pregnancy. Semen samples from 54 donors were analyzed before freezing and after thawing. Specimens resulting in pregnancy were compared to specimens from the same donor that did not. Semen characteristics were compared to gender of the child.

RESULTS

Two hundred fifty two-women became pregnant of the 422 who were enrolled. The pregnancy rate per cycle was 13%. Semen quality was not related to pregnancy outcome or offspring gender. However, more male children (101 vs 83) were born.

CONCLUSIONS

Semen characteristics in good-quality cryopreserved donor semen do not affect pregnancy rate or offspring gender.