Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
OBJECTIVE:
To highlight the effect of Motility Stimulant Pentoxifylline (PF) used to activate semen samples when managing couples suffering from primary Infertility due to either unexplained reasons or mild male factors by Artificial Insemination.
DESIGN: Prospective study.
SETTING: Institution of Infertility Treatment and Embryo Research, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad -Iraq.
METHODS:
Ninety four couples suffering from mild male or unexplained primary infertility were involved in this study. According to results of Postcoital test (PCT) performed to the participants prior to Insemination, they were divided into two groups. Group 1 (67 couples) women with positive (+ve) PCT (>5 motile sperm /HPF), they underwent alternative cycles of Intra- uterine and Intra-cervical Inseminations (IUI) (ICI). Group 2 (27 couples) those with negative (-ve) PCT (< 5 motile sperm/HPF), they were inseminated by intra-uterine method only. The couples underwent 120 insemination cycles. PF was added following sperm washing in 81 inseminations. Where as 39 inseminations were performed after sperm washing technique only.
RESULTS:
The study recorded 18% pregnancy rate (17 out of 94 women). IUI was done in 72 cycles in which PF was added following sperm washing in 48 cycles resulting in 10 pregnancies (20.8%). While only two women conceived form 24 IUI cycles without using PF (8.3%). This difference is statistically significant (P<0.05). On the other hand, ICI was done in 48 cycles; PF was used in 33 cycles successfully resulting in 5 pregnancies (15.15%). Whereas , no pregnancy recorded when PF not used in the remaining 15 ICI. PF was used in 8I insemination cycles treated by IUI or ICI had resulted in 15 pregnancies (18.5%). This result is significantly higher (P<0.05) than the recorded pregnancy rate of the control group in whom 39 inseminations with IUI and ICI done without using PF (2/39, 5.1%).
CONCLUSION:
Pentoxifylline improves pregnancy rate when used to activate sperm function in both Intrauterine and Intracervical Inseminations.