Pregnancy rate in two methods of fallopian tube perfusion (FSP) with standard intrauterine insemination (IUI) in infertile patients

Nowadays, there are different methods to treat infertility. One of the oldest methods of treating infertility is artificial insemination of sperm into the uterus (Intrauterine Insemination or IUI) and fallopian tube sperm perfusion (FSP). The results obtained in internal and external trials are different and the need for more studies is felt regarding the comparison of these two methods and the outcomes of successful pregnancy resulting from them; so the present study was performed with aim to determine and compare the pregnancy rate between IUI and FSP in infertile couples.

This randomized controlled trial study was performed in 2019 on 120 eligible patients referred to Moloud Infertility center in Zahedan. Patients were assigned to FSP and IUI groups based on the day of visit. Based on the day of refer to the center, patients on even days were included in the FSP group and patients on odd days were included in the standard IUI group. Treatment cycles of IUI and FSP were performed for the patients of each group by the treatment team of the infertility center. Data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software (version 19) and independent t and chi-square tests. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

In the IUI group, 53 women (88.3%) had a negative pregnancy test and 7 women (11.7%) had a positive result. In the FSP group, 49 (81.7%) had a negative pregnancy test and 11 (18.3%) had a positive result. According to the Chi-square test, there was no statistically significant difference between women with a positive pregnancy result in the IUI and FSP groups (p = 0.306).

In the present study, although the pregnancy rate was higher in FSP method, but the difference in pregnancy rates was not significant between IUI and FSP methods.