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Evidence summaries

Ovarian Stimulation Protocols for Intrauterine Insemination in Women with Subfertility

Gonadotrophins appear to be the most effective drugs when intrauterine insemination (IUI) is combined with ovarian hyperstimulation. Level of evidence: "B"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 43 studies with a total of 3957 subjects. Seven studies (n= 556) were pooled comparing gonadotrophins with anti-oestrogens showing significant higher pregnancy rates with gonadotrophins (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.7). Five studies (n=313) compared anti-oestrogens with aromatase inhibitors reporting no significant difference (OR 1.2 95% CI 0.64 to 2.1). The same could be concluded comparing different types of gonadotrophins (9 studies included, n=576). Four studies (n=391) reported the effect of adding a GnRH agonist which did not improve pregnancy rates (OR 0.98 95% CI 0.6 to 1.6), although it resulted in significant higher multiple pregnancy rates (OR 2.9 95% CI 1.0 to 8). Data of three studies (n=299) showed no convincing evidence of adding a GnRH antagonist to gonadotrophins (OR 1.5 95% CI 0.83 to 2.8). The results of two studies (n=297) reported no evidence of benefit in doubling the dose of gonadotrophins (OR 1.2 95% 0.67 to 1.9) although the multiple pregnancy rates and OHSS rates were increased. For the remaining five comparisons only one or none studies were included.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (inadequate reporting of allocation concealment and drop outs).

References

  • Cantineau AE, Cohlen BJ, Heineman MJ. Ovarian stimulation protocols (anti-oestrogens, gonadotrophins with and without GnRH agonists/antagonists) for intrauterine insemination (IUI) in women with subfertility. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007 Apr 18;(2):CD005356. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords