Aim: To evaluate the effect of solely intrauterine insemination on perinatal outcomes.
Methods: A total of 3830 OI/IUI cycles between January 2007 and December 2012 were included in the study. Three hundred and fifty-eight pregnancies following intrauterine insemination were encountered during the study period. Data from 246 pregnancies conceived through OI/IUI treatment were available. A total of 438 singletons with no maternal risk constituted the control group. The two groups were compared according to perinatal outcomes.
Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in first trimester abortion and intrauterine demise. At least one or more perinatal adverse outcomes occurred in study and control groups with the rates of 38.4% and 18.5%, respectively. There were significant differences in preterm delivery rate and oligohydramnios between the groups. There were also significant differences in the rate of neonates with a birth weight < 2500 g and NICU.
Conclusion: In general, women's health perspective, to have a pregnancy is the main target in infertility work-ups, but physicians should be aware of the risks and couples should be counseled that pregnancies after OI/IUI treatment even if singleton carries a risk of adverse perinatal outcome for both the mother and baby.
Keywords: Intrauterine insemination; perinatal outcomes; singletons.