Improving IUI outcomes by adding myo-inositol to the semen preparation procedure

ObjectiveThe aim of the present trial was to study whether myo-inositol (MI) treatment during semen preparation procedures is able to improve pregnancy rate after intrauterine insemination (IUI).DesignThis preliminary trial was designed as a prospective study and was performed enrolling couples counseled for IUI from September 2013 to February 2014. A retrospective group (January to July 2013) matched for clinical fertility history and women age was used as control group. Semen samples from both groups were prepared with the swim-up procedure.Materials and MethodsTabled 1MICTRP valueMean women age36.2±5.536.0±6.9N°IUI cycle3028Clinical pregnancy33.3%20.4%0.0492 Open table in a new tab ResultsIn summary using MI in the semen preparation procedures increases the percentage of the clinical pregnancy during IUI. Furthermore, based on these results, we have performed a power analysis allowing us to identify the sample size for a future randomized controlled trial. In particular, enrolling 160 couples per group, we would be able to detect with a power of 80% a difference of 13% between the two groups.ConclusionIt has previously shown that MI treatment increases spermatozoa mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Furthermore, following the swim-up procedure, MI treatment allows retrieving an increased number of spermatozoa in both normospermic (+71%vs untreated) and OAT (+91% vs untreated)[1, 2] samples.It is known that sperm progressive motility and the sperm fertilization capacity directly depend on the MMP of the sperm cells that fertilize the oocyte[3]. Having this in mind the drop of the MMP caused by the semen preparation procedures has to be considered one of the main issue that need to be addressed in order to improve ART efficiency[4].According to ours findings, MI treatment by increasing the sperm MMP, increase the percentage of clinical pregnancy after IUI. ObjectiveThe aim of the present trial was to study whether myo-inositol (MI) treatment during semen preparation procedures is able to improve pregnancy rate after intrauterine insemination (IUI). The aim of the present trial was to study whether myo-inositol (MI) treatment during semen preparation procedures is able to improve pregnancy rate after intrauterine insemination (IUI). DesignThis preliminary trial was designed as a prospective study and was performed enrolling couples counseled for IUI from September 2013 to February 2014. A retrospective group (January to July 2013) matched for clinical fertility history and women age was used as control group. Semen samples from both groups were prepared with the swim-up procedure. This preliminary trial was designed as a prospective study and was performed enrolling couples counseled for IUI from September 2013 to February 2014. A retrospective group (January to July 2013) matched for clinical fertility history and women age was used as control group. Semen samples from both groups were prepared with the swim-up procedure. Materials and MethodsTabled 1MICTRP valueMean women age36.2±5.536.0±6.9N°IUI cycle3028Clinical pregnancy33.3%20.4%0.0492 Open table in a new tab ResultsIn summary using MI in the semen preparation procedures increases the percentage of the clinical pregnancy during IUI. Furthermore, based on these results, we have performed a power analysis allowing us to identify the sample size for a future randomized controlled trial. In particular, enrolling 160 couples per group, we would be able to detect with a power of 80% a difference of 13% between the two groups. In summary using MI in the semen preparation procedures increases the percentage of the clinical pregnancy during IUI. Furthermore, based on these results, we have performed a power analysis allowing us to identify the sample size for a future randomized controlled trial. In particular, enrolling 160 couples per group, we would be able to detect with a power of 80% a difference of 13% between the two groups. ConclusionIt has previously shown that MI treatment increases spermatozoa mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Furthermore, following the swim-up procedure, MI treatment allows retrieving an increased number of spermatozoa in both normospermic (+71%vs untreated) and OAT (+91% vs untreated)[1, 2] samples.It is known that sperm progressive motility and the sperm fertilization capacity directly depend on the MMP of the sperm cells that fertilize the oocyte[3]. Having this in mind the drop of the MMP caused by the semen preparation procedures has to be considered one of the main issue that need to be addressed in order to improve ART efficiency[4].According to ours findings, MI treatment by increasing the sperm MMP, increase the percentage of clinical pregnancy after IUI. It has previously shown that MI treatment increases spermatozoa mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Furthermore, following the swim-up procedure, MI treatment allows retrieving an increased number of spermatozoa in both normospermic (+71%vs untreated) and OAT (+91% vs untreated)[1, 2] samples.