Abstract
BACKGROUND: We set out to explore the effect of intrauterine human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) instillation by intrauterine insemination (IUI) catheter before embryo transfer (ET) on assisted reproductive technologies (ART) outcomes of infertile women. METHODS: One hundred women with infertility who were scheduled for in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles were included in the study. They were randomly devoted to two groups: experimental (n= 50) and control (n= 50). In the experimental group, 500 IU hCG passed into the internal cervical orifice via IUI catheter within 15 minutes before the transfer of fresh or vitrified cleavage-stage embryos. The control group underwent the same ET procedure without prior injection of hCG. RESULTS: None of the outcomes showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups. In the intervention and control groups, respectively, biochemical pregnancies rates were 26% and 18%, implantation rates were 13.5% and 8.6%, clinical pregnancies rates were 22% and 14%, ongoing pregnancies rates were 18% and 14%, and live birth rates were 14% and 12%. CONCLUSION: Intrauterine injection of hCG via IUI catheter is not recommended in a clinical routine setting at this stage. Future efforts are warranted to further refine the applicability of this modality.