Double versus single intrauterine insemination for unexplained infertility: a meta-analysis of randomized trials

Fertil Steril. 2010 Sep;94(4):1261-1266. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.06.052. Epub 2009 Aug 8.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of double versus single intrauterine insemination (IUI) per treatment cycle in women with unexplained infertility.

Design: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Main outcome measure(s): Clinical pregnancy rates per couple.

Intervention(s): Electronic searches of the Cochrane Central Trials Registry and Medline without year and language restriction through March 2009; hand searching of the abstract books of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology and American Society for Reproductive Medicine annual meetings (2001-2008).

Result(s): Six randomized trials, involving 829 women, were included in the analysis. Fifty-four (13.6%) clinical pregnancies were recorded for treatment with double IUI and 62 (14.4%) for treatment with single IUI. There was no significant difference between the single and double IUI groups in the probability for clinical pregnancy (odds ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.58-1.45; P=0.715).

Conclusion(s): Double IUI offers no clear benefit in the overall clinical pregnancy rate in couples with unexplained infertility.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Algorithms
  • Family Characteristics
  • Female
  • Geography
  • Humans
  • Infertility / etiology
  • Infertility / therapy*
  • Insemination, Artificial / methods*
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Rate
  • Quality Control
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / statistics & numerical data*
  • Uterus