The purpose of this study was to determine whether
2 new semen quality (SQ) scores could predict pregnancy in patients
undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI) for male-factor infertility
and whether an overall score could help in counseling these couples
with assisted reproductive technique (ART) options. Ninety-three
couples with male-factor infertility were examined for semen analysis.
Samples were prepared by density gradient separation (47%
and 90%), and IUI was performed. On the basis of the 2 semen
scores (SQ and relative quality [RQ]), the IUI-semen pregnancy
score (IUI-SPS) was calculated. Of the 192 IUI cycles, 14% (27 of
192) resulted in pregnancy. Both prewash SQ and RQ scores were
significantly related to pregnancy (P 5 .02 and P , .001), as was
the postwash RQ score (P , .001). Of the IUI cycles in which the
postwash RQ score was greater than 125, 40% (13 of 32) resulted
in pregnancy compared to 9% of cycles (14 of 160) in which the
postwash SQ score was less than 125. The prewash IUI-SPS score
was significantly related to IUI-induced pregnancy (P , .001). Both
the pre- and postwash SQ and RQ scores can predict pregnancy in
male infertility patients undergoing IUI. Patients with an IUI-SPS less
than 150 may be advised to seek in vitro fertilization (IVF), whereas
those with an IUI-SPS greater than 150 may be advised to seek IUI.