Human Reproduction, Vol. 15, No. 12, 2653-2658,
December 2000
© 2000 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
The effect of intercourse on pregnancy rates during assisted human reproduction
1 Reproductive Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide, South Australia, 2 Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, Madrid and 3 Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, Murcia, Spain
Intercourse during an IVF cycle has the potential to improve pregnancy rates since exposure to semen is reported to promote embryo development and implantation in animals. Conversely, coitus-induced uterine contractions or introduction of infection may have a detrimental effect. A multicentre prospective randomized control trial was conducted to determine if intercourse during the peri-transfer period of an IVF cycle has any influence on pregnancy success. Participants undergoing thawed embryo transfer (Australian centre) or fresh embryo transfers (Spanish centres) were randomized either to abstain or to engage in vaginal intercourse around the time of embryo transfer. The transfer of 1343 embryos during 478 cycles of IVF resulted in 107 pregnancies (22.4%), with 125 viable embryos remaining by 6–8 weeks gestation. There was no significant difference between the intercourse and abstain groups in relation to the pregnancy rate (23.6 and 21.2% respectively), but the proportion of transferred embryos that were viable at 6–8 weeks was significantly higher in women exposed to semen compared to those who abstained (11.01 versus 7.69 viable embryos per 100 transferred embryos, P = 0.036, odds ratio 1.48, 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.19). Hence exposure to semen around the time of embryo transfer increases the likelihood of successful early embryo implantation and development.
Key words: IVF/intercourse/pregnancy/semen
4 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide, South Australia.E-mail: kelton.tremellen{at}adelaide.edu.au
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  S. A. Robertson, L. R. Guerin, J. J. Bromfield, K. M. Branson, A. C. Ahlstrom, and A. S. Care Seminal Fluid Drives Expansion of the CD4+CD25+ T Regulatory Cell Pool and Induces Tolerance to Paternal Alloantigens in Mice Biol Reprod, May 1, 2009; 80(5): 1036 - 1045. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. A. Politch, L. Tucker, F. P. Bowman, and D. J. Anderson Concentrations and significance of cytokines and other immunologic factors in semen of healthy fertile men Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2007; 22(11): 2928 - 2935. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. M. Seavey and T. R. Mosmann Paternal Antigen-Bearing Cells Transferred during Insemination Do Not Stimulate Anti-Paternal CD8+ T Cells: Role of Estradiol in Locally Inhibiting CD8+ T Cell Responses J. Immunol., December 1, 2006; 177(11): 7567 - 7578. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 H. Achache and A. Revel Endometrial receptivity markers, the journey to successful embryo implantation Hum. Reprod. Update, November 1, 2006; 12(6): 731 - 746. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Strowitzki, A. Germeyer, R. Popovici, and M. von Wolff The human endometrium as a fertility-determining factor Hum. Reprod. Update, September 1, 2006; 12(5): 617 - 630. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Daimon and Y. Wada Role of Neutrophils in Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity in the Preimplantation Mouse Uterus Biol Reprod, July 1, 2005; 73(1): 163 - 171. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Gutsche, M. von Wolff, T. Strowitzki, and C.J. Thaler Seminal plasma induces mRNA expression of IL-1{beta}, IL-6 and LIF in endometrial epithelial cells in vitro Mol. Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2003; 9(12): 785 - 791. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. J. Cahill, J. M. Jenkins, P. W. Soothill, A. Whitelaw, and P. G. Wardle Quadruplet pregnancy following transfer of two embryos: Case report Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2003; 18(2): 441 - 443. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Ola, N. Hammadieh, S. Papaioannou, M. Afnan, and K. Sharif The effect of intercourse on pregnancy rates during assisted human reproduction Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2001; 16(9): 2029 - 2029. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|