Usefulness of the hypo-osmotic swelling test in predicting pregnancy rate and outcome in couples undergoing intrauterine insemination

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the usefulness of the hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test in predicting successful conception and the pregnancy outcome in couples in whom men are affected by mild infertility and fertile women are treated with ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination (IUI). We retrospectively analyzed the results obtained from 120 couples who underwent not more than 3 consecutive cycles of gonadotropin-induced mono-ovulation followed by IUI. Semen was analyzed by classical parameters, and the HOS test was performed using a hypo-osmotic solution. Using HOS, at least 50% swollen spermatozoa was considered normal. The pregnancy rate obtained in couples with an HOS less than 50% was significantly lower (P