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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1995

Does intrauterine insemination offer an advantage to cervical cap insemination in a donor insemination program?

OBJECTIVE: To compare pregnancy outcome after IUI versus cervical cap insemination in a donor insemination program. DESIGN: A randomized prospective clinical trial in which patients were alternately inseminated with cryopreserved human semen using either IUI or cervical cap insemination methods. SETTING: The donor insemination program at Washington University School of Medicine. PATIENTS: Forty-two women with either isolated male factor or male factor plus corrected ovulatory dysfunction using clomiphene citrate underwent 141 cycles of donor insemination. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical pregnancy rates (PRs) defined as a viable intrauterine gestation > 12 weeks or delivered were compared between groups using the chi 2 test. RESULTS: Clinical PRs were significantly higher in the IUI group (16.4%) compared with the cervical cap insemination group (5.9%). The spontaneous abortion rates were similar between the IUI (1.4%) and cervical cap insemination groups (4.4%). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest an advantage to IUI over cervical cap insemination in a donor insemination program.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

PubMed2000

Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection versus partial zona dissection, subzonal insemination and conventional techniques for oocyte insemination during in vitro fertilisation.

BACKGROUND: In vitro fertilisation (IVF) and embryo transfer as treatment for male factor infertility is associated with lower fertilisation and pregnancy rates than for other indications. Since the late 1980s several assisted fertilisation techniques have emerged and have been rapidly developed to try to enhance results for couples with male factor infertility, or to help couples with severe male factor for whom conventional IVF was not possible. The technique of partial zona dissection (PZD) was developed to increase the probability that a sperm capable of fertilisation comes in contact with the oocyte. Although this method improved conventional IVF results, the improvement was only marginal and relatively large numbers of sperm are still required. This drawback applied less to the subsequent technique of subzonal microinjection of spermatozoa into the perivitelline space (SUZI). However, for all of these techniques fertilisation rates remained low, rates of polyspermic fertilisation were increased, and cases with a very limited number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate could still not be treated. The advent of intra-cytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI) of a single sperm (or sperm head or nucleus) into the oocyte appears to be an important breakthrough. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether ICSI improves fertilisation and/or pregnancy rates in comparison to other fertilisation techniques. SEARCH STRATEGY: The Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group search strategy (see Review Group details) was used to identify trials that had compared ICSI with other infertility techniques, such as PZD, SUZI, conventional IVF and additional IVF. SELECTION CRITERIA: Trials were included if they compared the effects of these techniques on fertilisation and pregnancy outcomes. Only randomised studies were included in this review. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Eight studies compared ICSI with conventional IVF. One study compared ICSI with SUZI and one study compared ICSI with additional IVF. Data was extracted independently by two reviewers. Where relevant data was missing or unclear, the authors had been consulted. Male participants were classified according to their semen parameters, i.e. normal semen (concentration >20 million per ml, motility >50%, morphology >14%), borderline semen (concentration 10-20 million per ml, motility 30-50%, morphology 4-14% normal forms) and very poor semen (concentration <10 million per ml, motility <30%, morphology <4% normal forms). MAIN RESULTS: For couples with normal semen there is no evidence of a difference in fertilisation rates per retrieved oocyte or pregnancy rates between ICSI and conventional IVF. On the other hand, for fertilisation rate per inseminated oocyte, ICSI appears to result in better outcomes than IVF for normal semen. For couples with borderline semen ICSI results in higher fertilisation rates (all) than IVF. Couples with very poor semen will have better fertilisation outcomes with ICSI than with SUZI or additional IVF. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence from this systematic review that fertilisation rates are significantly better with ICSI than IVF in couples with borderline semen. When the semen parameters are normal there is insufficient evidence of a difference in effectiveness between ICSI and IVF when retrieved oocytes were the unit of randomisation. However, there was a small but statistically significant increase in fertilisation rate when inseminated oocytes were the unit of randomisation. Total fertilisation rates were significantly reduced in ICSI cycles than IVF but there were no damaged oocytes in IVF cycles regardless of the semen parameters.

Embryo Implantation↗

PubMed1989

Fertilization and ovum recovery rates in superovulated ewes following cervical insemination or laparoscopic intrauterine insemination at different times after progestagen withdrawal and in one or both uterine horns.

In Exp. 1, 40 ewes were used in a 2 x 2 factorial design to investigate the effects of intrauterine versus cervical insemination and superovulation using pig FSH or PMSG and GnRH on egg recovery and fertilization rate. Cervical inseminations were carried out at 48 and 60 h (N = 20 ewes) and intrauterine insemination at 52 h (N = 20 ewes) after progestagen pessary withdrawal. Eggs were recovered on Day 3 of the oestrous cycle. Ovulation, egg recovery and fertilization rates were independent of the type of superovulatory hormone used. Fertilization rate was high irrespective of insemination site but intrauterine insemination at 52 h was associated with a significant (P less than 0.01) decrease in egg recovery of over 40% compared with cervically inseminated ewes. In Exp. 2 ewes were inseminated at 36 (N = 5), 48 (N = 6) or 60 (N = 6) h after pessary withdrawal to determine the optimum intrauterine insemination time to maximize both fertilization rate and egg recovery. Egg recovery per ewe flushed was 23, 59 and 67% after intrauterine insemination at 36, 48 and 60 h respectively. Correspondingly, 0, 85 and 100% of the eggs recovered were fertilized. The results of Exps 1 and 2 suggest that when intrauterine insemination occurs before or during ovulation it interferes with oocyte collection by the fimbria. In Exp. 3 egg recovery and fertilization rates were determined after cervical insemination at 48 and 60 h (N = 8) or intrauterine insemination at 48 (N = 9) or 60 (N = 8) h after progestagen withdrawal. Ewes in the last two groups were subdivided and inseminated unilaterally or bilaterally. Egg recovery was high after cervical insemination (95%) but only 36% of these eggs were fertilized. Unilateral intrauterine insemination was as effective as bilateral in ensuring high fertilization rates (100 versus 97%). Intrauterine insemination at 48 h compared with 60 h resulted in a significantly lower (P less than 0.05) percentage of eggs recovered (42 versus 90% respectively). However, reducing the degree of interference by adopting unilateral rather than bilateral insemination did not alleviate the detrimental effects of the 48-h insemination time on egg recovery. From these results we advocate the adoption of intrauterine insemination at 60 h after progestagen withdrawal to maximize fertilization rate and egg recovery in superovulated ewes.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Therapeutic cup insemination with cryopreserved donor sperm: prognostic value of cervical mucus score at insemination and the number of motile sperm in mucus at 24 hours.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prognostic value of cervical mucus score at insemination and the number of motile sperm in mucus 24 hours after therapeutic cup insemination with cryopreserved donor sperm. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: Academic tertiary medical center. PATIENTS: One hundred thirty-eight women with confirmed bilateral tubal patency who received therapeutic cup inseminations with cryopreserved donor sperm between 1986 and 1993. INTERVENTIONS: All insemination cycles were monitored with serial daily urinary LH determinations with a single (n = 312) insemination or two inseminations (n = 212) performed on and/or 1 day after the day of LH surge detection. A single examiner assigned cervical mucus scores in all insemination cycles and recorded the number of motile sperm in mucus 24 hours after the first insemination in dual insemination cycles. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Pregnancy rate during various cervical mucus and motile sperm scores. RESULTS: Ninety-one women conceived (66%) and seven of these achieved two pregnancies. The overall pregnancy rate per insemination cycle was 18.7%. Age and day of insemination were the only variables identified as having significant influence on cycle outcome. Pregnancy occurred with decreasing frequency as patient age increased and was nearly twice as likely after insemination on the day after the urinary LH surge as on the day of surge detection. CONCLUSIONS: Insemination the day after the urinary LH surge is superior to the day of surge detection. Cervical mucus score and the number of motile sperm in mucus 24 hours after therapeutic cup insemination with cryopreserved donor sperm do not correlate with cycle outcome.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Effect of sperm number and frequency of insemination on fertility of mares inseminated with cooled semen.

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that insemination of mares with twice the recommended dose of cooled semen (2 x 10(9) spermatozoa) would result in higher pregnancy rates than insemination with a single dose (1 x 10(9) spermatozoa) or with 1 x 10(9) spermatozoa on each of 2 consecutive days. A total of 83 cycles from 61 mares was used. Mares were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups when a 40-mm follicle was detected by palpation and ultrasonography. Mares in Group 1 were inseminated with 1 x 10(9) progressively motile spermatozoa that had been cooled in a passive cooling unit to 5 degrees C and stored for 24 h. A second aliquot of semen from the same collection was stored for an additional 24 h and inseminated at 48 h after collection. Mares in Group 2 were inseminated once with 1 x 10(9) progressively motile spermatozoa that had been cooled to 5 degrees C and stored for 24 h. Group 3 mares were inseminated once with 2 x 10(9) progressively motile spermatozoa that had been cooled to 5 degrees C and stored for 24 h. All mares were given 2500 IU i.v. hCG at the first insemination. Pregnancy was determined by ultrasonography 12, 14 and 16 d after ovulation. On Day 16, mares were administered i.m. 10 mg of PGF2 alpha and, upon returning to estrus, were randomly reassigned to a group for repeated treatment. Semen was collected from one of 3 stallions every 3 d; mares with a 40-mm ovarian follicle were inseminated with semen from the stallion collected on the preceding day. Semen was allocated into doses containing 1 x 10(9) progressively motile spermatozoa, diluted with dried skim milk-glucose extender to a concentration of 25 x 10(6) motile spermatozoa/ml (total volume 40 ml), placed in a passive cooling unit and cooled to 5 degrees C for 24 or 48 h. Response was measured by number of mares showing pregnancy. Data were analyzed by Chi square. Mares inseminated twice with 1 x 10(9) progressively motile spermatozoa on each of two consecutive days had a higher pregnancy rate (16/25, 64%; P < 0.05) than mares inseminated once with 1 x 10(9) progressively motile spermatozoa (9/29, 31%) or those inseminated once with 2 x 10(9) progressively motile spermatozoa (12/29, 41%). Pregnancy rates did not differ significantly (P > 0.10) among stallions (69, 34 and 32%). Interval from last insemination to ovulation was 0.9, 2.0 and 2.0 d for mares in Groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Based on these results, the optimal insemination regimen is a dose of 1 x 10(9) progressively motile spermatozoa given on two consecutive days. However, a shorter interval (< or = 24 h rather than > 0.9 d) between insemination and ovulation may affect pregnancy rates, and needs to be investigated.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Radiographic evaluation of bovine artificial inseminating technique among professional and herdsman-inseminators using .5- and .25-ml French straws.

Using radiography, inseminating syringe tip location and inseminate distribution in excised bovine reproductive tracts were described for 20 professional and 20 herdsman-inseminators using .5- and .25-ml French straws. Inseminations (20 by each participant) were performed in tracts placed on a device that stimulated the anatomical position of the reproductive organs in vivo. A computer-coupled graphics information digitizer was used to quantitate the precise location of the syringe tip and to estimate the distribution of radiopaque inseminate within the tract from each pair of radiographs. Neither category of inseminator (professional or herdsman) nor volume of inseminate (.5 vs .25 ml) influenced (P greater than .05) syringe tip placement or subsequent distribution of the radiopaque inseminate within the tract. The proportion of syringe tip placements in various anatomical locations (586 attempts) were: uterine body, 39%; cervix, 25%; left uterine lumen, 13% and right uterine lumen, 23%. The variability among inseminators was high, with the ability to position the syringe tip in the uterine body ranging from 0 to 85% of the 20 attempts. Among all inseminators, 82% were unable to place the syringe in the uterine body greater than 60% of the time. When averaged across all inseminations (n = 666), 40% of the inseminate was located in the uterine body and(or) equally distributed in the uterine lumina. The remainder of the inseminate was located in the cervix (17%) or disproportionately in one uterine lumen (43%). Syringe tip placement in the uterine body was correlated (r = .73; P less than .05) with the proportion of inseminate located in the uterine body and(or) equally distributed to the lumen of both uterine horns. Measurements of various anatomical components of the reproductive tract were made from the first radiograph. The means were: cervical diameter, 5.9 cm; length from internal cervical os to external uterine bifurcation, 16.4 cm; uterine body length, 1.7 cm and uterine body surface area, 3.6 cm2. There was no relationship between the palpable anatomical components and uterine body size.

Animals↗

PubMed1982

Use of boar spermatozoa for artificial insemination. II. Fertilizing capacity of fresh and frozen spermatozoa in gilts inseminated either at a fixed time or according to Walsmeta readings.

A fertility trial was conducted comparing two methods of defining the optimum time to inseminate frozen boar semen. One hundred sixty-four gilts were inseminated, one-half at a fixed insemination time of 32 to 34 h after calculated onset of estrus and the remainder were inseminated on the basis of changes in the vaginal mucosal electrical resistance. Inseminations were made when the instrument (an inversely scaled ohmmeter) reading fell between 54 to 64 on a scale of 1 to 100. Both fresh and frozen boar semen were used. Pregnancy rates and live embryos/gilts from inseminations made at the fixed time and inseminations made on the basis of ohmmeter readings did not differ significantly for either fresh of frozen-thawed spermatozoa. Pregnancy rates and number of live embryos/gilt were significantly higher for gilts inseminated with fresh spermatozoa than for those inseminated with frozen-thawed spermatozoa (82%, 11.6 vs 61%, 8.2, respectively). Inseminations were conducted from January to September. Pregnancy rates were significantly higher for inseminations made for the first quarter or the year (January, February and March) than for inseminations made for the third quarter (July, August and September). No benefit was derived from using an ohmmeter to time insemination with frozen-thawed boar spermatozoa.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The successful use of hyperstimulated washed therapeutic donor insemination after standard therapeutic donor insemination has failed.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether an aggressive therapeutic donor insemination regimen (stimulated folliculogenesis and ovulation plus intrauterine insemination) can produce a better fecundability rate than a more traditional insemination regimen (non-stimulated folliculogenesis plus LH-timed intracervical insemination) in women who have failed to become pregnant during an initial series of six traditional insemination cycles. DESIGN: A retrospective comparison of fecundability rates was undertaken between women undergoing the traditional insemination protocol and those who voluntarily switched to ovarian hyperstimulation coupled with intrauterine insemination. PARTICIPANTS: Eight-two women who failed to become pregnant during an initial series of six intracervical insemination cycles. RESULTS: Fecundability was 5.6% in cycles of continued urinary LH-timed intracervical insemination and 19.4% when the more aggressive regimen was applied. The difference in fecundability between protocols was significant (P < .005). CONCLUSION: After an initial series of donor inseminations has failed, a more aggressive insemination regimen involving ovarian hyperstimulation followed by washed intrauterine insemination provides a higher fecundability rate than continued intracervical insemination.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

One versus two inseminations per cycle in intrauterine insemination with sperm from patients' husbands: a systematic review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of performing two inseminations per cycle in IUI with husband's sperm compared with one insemination per cycle. DESIGN: Meta-analysis. SETTING: Randomized and prospective trials comparing two inseminations vs. one insemination per cycle in IUI with husband's sperm, retrieved by MEDLINE and Cochrane Library searches (1966-2001) and a manual search of the abstracts of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology and American Society for Reproductive Medicine annual meetings (1990-2001). PATIENT(S): A total of 865 patients underwent 1156 cycles of IUI with husband's sperm. INTERVENTION(S): After different ovarian stimulation protocols, one or two inseminations were performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Pregnancy rate per cycle. Detected studies were tested for homogeneity. Because heterogeneity was observed, DerSimonian-Laird relative risk with alleatory effects was used. RESULT(S): Six randomized and prospective trials involving 865 patients and 1156 cycles were identified. There was remarkable heterogeneity among the different studies concerning methodology, especially regarding ovarian cycle management and the timing of inseminations. Although the pregnancy rate per cycle was somewhat higher in the two-inseminations-per-cycle group (14.9% vs. 11.4%), there were no statistically significant differences (relative risk = 1.34; 95% confidence interval 0.90-1.99). CONCLUSION(S): No significant differences were observed when two inseminations per cycle were performed, compared with one insemination. There was great heterogeneity concerning ovarian management and insemination timing. This heterogeneity hampered the analysis. We detected a better pregnancy rate with two inseminations vs. one insemination when clomiphene citrate with or without gonadotropins and 5000 IU of hCG were used. More studies are necessary to ascertain whether this is true or merely an artifact from the multiple subgroups analysis.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗

PubMed1990

Artificial insemination of Cashmere goats: effects on fertility and fecundity of intravaginal treatment, method and time of insemination, semen freezing process, number of motile spermatozoa and age of females.

The experiments, using a total of 1833 Cashmere does, were conducted to examine the effects on fertility and fecundity of intravaginal treatment for control of ovulation, time of insemination by cervical and laparoscopic methods, semen processing in pellets and straws, and number of frozen-thawed motile spermatozoa. Adult does (greater than or equal to 2.5 years) that had previously kidded were inseminated into the cervix, and maiden (kid: 6-8 months; hogget: 18 months) and adult does were inseminated laparoscopically. The rates of pregnancy determined by ultrasonic scanning (75-80 days after insemination) for cervical (Experiment 1) and laparoscopic (Experiments 2 and 3) insemination were 39.1%, 63.6% and 52.1%. The number of motile spermatozoa did not affect fertility after cervical (80, 120 and 160 x 10(6) or laparoscopic (Experiment 2: 15, 30 and 60 x 10(6); Experiment 3:5, 10 and 20 x 10(6) insemination. The method of insemination or number of motile spermatozoa did not affect fecundity. With cervical insemination, fertility and fecundity improved with increasing depth of insemination into the reproductive tract. Intravaginal sponges containing fluorogestone acetate and controlled internal drug release (CIDR) devices containing progesterone were equally effective for control of ovulation when combined with an injection of pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin (PMSG; 200 i.u.) before insemination. Fertility was higher when does were inseminated before than after ovulation. After laparoscopic insemination, results were similar for semen frozen as pellets and in straws, and for 3-, 6- and 24-fold pre-freezing dilution of semen. For kid, hogget and adult does in Experiment 3, pregnancy rates were 34.0%, 55.4% and 63.9% and rates of fecundity were 1.17, 1.22 and 1.27 fetuses/pregnant doe.

Administration, Intravaginal↗

PubMed1997

Late estrus or metestrus insemination after estrual inseminations decreases farrowing rate and litter size in swine.

A study was conducted with 360 gilts and sows from four herds to determine whether fertility was affected when the final of multiple inseminations was performed in late estrus or metestrus (late insemination). Sows and gilts were inseminated at 24-h intervals immediately after the detection of estrus. After receiving a first insemination, females were paired according to parity and estrus status on d 2 of estrus. Each pair set was inseminated with extended semen from the same semen collection(s). Control females were inseminated once on d 1 if they were not in estrus on d 2 (n = 31) or on both days if they were in estrus on d 2 (n = 149). Late inseminated females in each pair were managed and inseminated in the same manner as control females and then inseminated again 24 h later regardless of estrus status. Overall reproductive performance was similar among the four herds. Late insemination caused a drop in farrowing rate in parity 1 and 2 females (23 and 22%; P < .05 and P < .01, respectively) and average litter size decreased by 1.1 pigs per litter (P < .05) regardless of parity. There were no differences in either litter size or farrowing rate between late inseminated females in estrus and those that were in metestrus at the time of their last insemination.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1985

[The effect of the microclimate in the insemination facility on conception in sows after the first insemination].

In the course of the year, the temperature and relative humidity of the insemination hall of a large pig farm were studied in ten three-week periods. The results were compared with the conception rate of sows inseminated in these periods. The macroclimatic conditions were also studied, and the influence of macroclimate (including temperature and relative humidity) on the microclimate of insemination hall was evaluated. The studied microclimate parameters were found to influence the conception of sows in the first three weeks after insemination. Highly significant differences (significance level of alpha = 0.01) were recorded in the conception of sows after the first insemination, in the occurrence of optimum and increased temperatures, in the occurrence of optimum and increased relative humidity in the summer and winter months. A significant difference at the significance level of alpha = 0.05 was found when the occurrence of increased relative humidity was compared. A high temperature was recorded only in the summer months. In summer and in the first half of autumn (from the 9th of June to the 13th of October) when increased to high temperatures and increased to high relative humidity prevailed in the insemination hall (optimum temperature only in 2.0 to 23.3% of the period; optimum relative humidity in 11.1 to 50.0% of the period), the sow conception rate after the first insemination was low (45.5 to 49.7%). In autumn the microclimatic conditions in the insemination hall returned to the optimum. From the 4th of November to the 16th of February the optimum temperature (optimum in 71.6 to 89.7% of the period) and optimum relative humidity (optimum in 74.2 to 90.7% of the period) prevailed in the insemination hall, enabling an improvement in the conception of sows after the first insemination (71.4 to 80.1%). The temperature inside the insemination hall was influenced by changes in outside temperatures whereas the relative humidity inside the insemination hall was influenced mainly by internal factors.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Influence of time of insemination relative to ovulation and frequency of insemination on gilt fertility.

The objectives of this study were to determine the optimal time of insemination in the pre-ovulatory period (from 32 to 0 h before ovulation) and to evaluate once-daily versus twice-daily inseminations in gilts. In Experiment 1, pre-puberal gilts (n=102) were observed for estrus every 8h and ultrasonography was performed every 8h from the onset of estrus to confirmation of ovulation. The gilts were inseminated once with 4 x 10(9) spermatozoa at various intervals prior to ovulation. Pregnancy detection was conducted 24 days after AI and gilts were slaughtered 4-6 days later. Corpora lutea and the number of viable embryos were counted and the embryo recovery rate was calculated (based on the percentage of corpora lutea). Inseminations performed <24h before ovulation resulted in a higher embryo recovery rate (P=0.02) and produced 2.1 more embryos (P=0.01) than inseminations >or=24h before ovulation. However, the pregnancy rate was reduced when inseminations were performed >16 h before ovulation (P=0.08). In Experiment 2, pre-puberal gilts (n=105) were observed for estrus every 12h and ultrasonography was performed every 12h from the onset of estrus to confirmation of ovulation. Gilts were inseminated (with 4 x 10(9) spermatozoa) 12h after the onset of estrus, with inseminations repeated either every 12h (twice-daily) or 24h (once-daily) during estrus. The gilts were allowed to farrow. There were no differences (between gilts bred twice-daily versus once-daily) for return to estrus rate (P=0.36) and adjusted farrowing rate (P=0.19). However, gilts inseminated once-daily had 1.2 piglets less than those inseminated twice-daily (P=0.09). In conclusion, gilts should be inseminated up to 16 h before ovulation, as intervals >16 h reduced pregnancy rate and litter size.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Artificial insemination of Bos indicus heifers: the effects of body weight, condition score, ovarian cyclic status and insemination regimen on pregnancy rate.

Effects of body weight, condition score, ovarian cyclic status and insemination regimen on pregnancy rates were investigated in 164 Bos indicus heifers synchronised with norgestomet-oestradiol and pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG). Oestrus detection techniques were also compared. Heifers were inseminated at either a fixed time (group 1, n = 83) of 48.0 +/- 0.2 h (mean +/- SEM) after implant removal or at 8.9 +/- 0.5 h after oestrus was detected (group 2, n = 81). Group 2 heifers that were not detected in oestrus by 72 h after implant removal were inseminated at that time. Oestrus was detected for the purpose of insemination using heatmount detectors. Tail-paint and oestrogen treated, chin-ball harnessed steers were used to compare the efficiency of oestrus detection. The probability of ovarian cyclicity increased with increasing body weight and condition score (P < 0.001). A higher proportion of heifers that were acyclic at the commencement of treatment, compared with cyclic heifers, were detected in oestrus at the time of insemination in the fixed-time inseminated group (P < 0.01). Analysis of covariance revealed that intervals from implant removal to oestrus were influenced by ovarian cyclic status (P < 0.01) and insemination group (P < 0.05). A higher pregnancy rate (% +/- SEM) was obtained in acyclic compared with cyclic heifers in the group 1 heifers (50.0 +/- 10 vs 28.1 +/- 6; P = 0.055) but not among the group 2 heifers (45.8 +/- 10 vs 49.1 +/- 7; P = 0.787). The probability of pregnancy was found to be associated negatively with body weight (P = 0.01) while a higher pregnancy rate was obtained in the group 2 compared with group 1 heifers (48.2% vs 34.9%; P = 0.093). The efficiency of oestrus detection was highest using heatmount detectors compared with tail-paint and chin-ball harnessed steers (90.7% vs 37.0% and 23.5%, respectively; P < 0.0001). We conclude that pregnancy rates can be increased in extensive environments when insemination follows oestrus detection using heatmount detectors compared with a fixed-time insemination. The fertility of heifers inseminated at a fixed time is influenced by ovarian cyclic status due to its influence on oestrus-to-insemination intervals.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Artificial insemination in pigs: study of conception conditions with use of 2 inseminations in heat with about 24 hours interval].

140 sows and gilts of Danish Landrace were inseminated twice per heat with an interval of approximately 24 hours. Half of the females had their first insemination with semen of Danish Landrace and their second insemination with semen of Yorkshire, the other half vice versa. 114 females became pregnant. At farrowing the number of offspring of Danish Landrace and/or Danish Landrace X Yorkshire per sow/gilt was registrated. The results have been set out in tables I and II, from which it can be seen, that 59% conceived only after first insemination, 18% only after second insemination and 23% after both first and second insemination. In the last group 52% of the offspring were from the first insemination and 48% from the second insemination. In the sows no increase in av. litter size after two inseminations was found. The results are discussed and apparent discrepancy with earlier results is explained with a presumbably existing competition in the female genital tract between sperms from two inseminations at different times in the heat, resulting in ageing of the first inseminated sperms.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

The more accurate timing of insemination with regard to ovulation does not create a significant improvement in pregnancy rates in a donor insemination program.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the accurate prediction of ovulation before artificial insemination of frozen donor semen was justified by increased pregnancy rates. DESIGN: A retrospective study of inseminations, over a 2-year period, administered to women who were enrolled on a donor insemination program and who were monitored using one of four ovulation timing regimens. Also, a study of the significance of follicle status at the time of insemination with relevance to pregnancy was carried out. SETTING: A university teaching hospital donor insemination program. PATIENTS: Patients entered in this study were undergoing insemination with thawed, cryopreserved, donor semen. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pregnancy and follicle status at the time of insemination. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in pregnancy rates between the four methods of ovulation detection most commonly used for artificial insemination. Inseminations several hours either side of ovulation did not result in a significantly different pregnancy rate than inseminations carried out closer to ovulation. CONCLUSION: More accurate and expensive methods of detecting changes in ovulation result in no significant increase in fecundity than other less expensive timing techniques.

Female↗

PubMed1999

Effect of a deep uterine insemination on spermatozoal accessibility to the ovum in cattle: a competitive insemination study.

A competitive insemination study was conducted to determine the effect of a deep uterine insemination on accessory sperm number per embryo in cattle. Cryopreserved semen of a fertile bull characterized by spermatozoa with a semi-flattened region of the anterior sperm head (marked bull) was matched with cryopreserved semen from an unmarked bull having spermatozoa with a conventional head shape. Using 0.25-mL French straws and a side delivery embryo transfer device, deep uterine insemination (0.125 mL deposited in each horn) was performed 2 cm from the uterotubal junction. Immediately after, the uterine body was artificially inseminated using semen (0.25 mL) from an alternate bull and a conventional insemination device. The complete dose (both inseminations) was 50x10(6) total sperm cells consisting of an equal number of spermatozoa from each bull. Single ovulating cows (n = 95) were inseminated at random with either the unmarked semen in the uterine body and marked semen in the uterine horn, or the unmarked semen in the uterine horn and marked semen in the uterine body. Sixty-one embryos(ova) were recovered nonsurgically 6 d post insemination, of which 40 were fertilized and contained accessory spermatozoa. The ratio and total number of accessory spermatozoa recovered was different among treatments: 62:38 (326) for the unmarked semen in the uterine body and marked semen in the uterine horn, and 72:28 (454) for the unmarked semen in the uterine horn and marked semen in the uterine body (P<0.05). Deep uterine insemination using this semen in a split dose and a side delivery device favors accessibility of spermatozoa to the ovum compared with conventional uterine body insemination.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Single versus double insemination: a retrospective audit of pregnancy rates with two treatment protocols in donor insemination.

Our objective was to evaluate the effect of a change in treatment protocols, suggested following an inspection visit by the regulatory authority, from single to double inseminations during donor insemination treatment cycles. We therefore conducted a retrospective audit of pregnancy rates in the reproductive medicine clinic of a major teaching hospital. All patients were treated for male factor infertility by donor insemination, without ovulation induction with gonadotrophins between October 1992 and December 1995. The main outcome measures were cumulative conception and live birth rates. During the study period 250 patients underwent treatment and 650 single insemination and 277 double insemination treatment cycles were undertaken. The pregnancy rate per cycle was 0.054 and 0.119 for single and double insemination respectively. After six cycles the cumulative pregnancy rates were 0.28 and 0.47 and the take-home baby rates were 0.25 and 0.37 for single and double inseminations respectively. The change in practice from single to double insemination resulted in a doubling of the pregnancy rate per treatment cycle. Cumulative pregnancy rates after two treatment cycles of double insemination were comparable with those achieved after six cycles of single insemination. These results have significant implications for both patients and purchasers.

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