A randomized comparison of the methods of sperm preparation for intrauterine insemination

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of three methods of sperm preparation for IUI during superovulation of infertile women. Design: Randomized assignment of one of three sperm preparation methods. Setting: University infertility practice. Patient(s): Infertile couples undergoing superovulation and IUI. Intervention(s): The method of preparation of sperm for IUI during superovulation was assigned randomly to double centrifugation, multiple-tube swim-up, or Percoll density gradient. Main Outcome Measure(s): Total number and percent recovery of motile sperm, percent of recovered sperm with normal morphology, and cycle fecundity. Result(s): No method of sperm preparation provided better cycle fecundity than the others despite differences in sperm recovery. Conclusion(s): Double centrifugation, multiple-tube swim-up, and Percoll density gradient sperm preparation for IUI yield similar cycle fecundity rates. (Fertil Steril(R) 1998;70:574-5. (C) 1998 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.).