A randomized controlled study to evaluate the cost-effectiveness in sperm extraction using carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide free system in relation to intrauterine insemination pregnancy

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of two different systems i.e. circulating water bath and carbon dioxide (CO(2)) incubator in extracting motile sperm for IUI programme and their effect on pregnancy outcome. METHODS: The study was performed on sixty-two patients recruited for ovulation induction followed by intrauterine insemination (IUI) in University fertility clinic. The patients were randomly divided into two groups and sperm preparation was performed with either water bath or CO(2) incubator system. The efficiency of the two systems was analyzed in relation to pregnancy outcome. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the efficacy of water bath and CO(2) system with respect to the quality of sperm extracted and pregnancy outcome. Although pregnancy rate was marginally higher in water bath group, it was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: CO(2)-free system can be a cost-effective approach in IUI programme which does not compromise with pregnancy rate.