ReviewInternational journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics2026
Optimizing outcomes in intrauterine insemination: A narrative synthesis of two decades of clinical research (2000-2024).
Review in International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
1 author.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a widely used first-line fertility treatment, yet its success rates vary considerably. This review synthesizes evidence from peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2024, including randomized controlled trials, cohort and case-control studies, as well as systematic and narrative reviews identified through structured searches of PubMed and Google Scholar, to examine the influence of patient characteristics, procedural variables, and environmental factors on IUI outcomes. Maternal age, body mass index (BMI), psychological stress, and nutritional status (insufficient intake of unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins [folate, B12, A, C, and E], minerals [nickel, zinc, and selenium]), strongly influence treatment success. Female-specific factors, including the number of mature follicles, endometrial thickness (6-10 mm), and ovarian stimulation protocols are consistently associated with improved pregnancy rates. Male-related determinants such as total motile sperm count, morphology, and DNA fragmentation index also play a significant role in influencing outcomes. In addition, procedural interventions, including slow-release insemination, use of soft catheters, and luteal phase support, have demonstrated potential benefit in some studies; however, the evidence is drawn from small RCTs and observational studies, with heterogeneous effect sizes, and therefore findings should be interpreted cautiously. Environmental exposures, including tobacco, alcohol, and reproductive toxins, further modulate IUI efficacy, especially when combined with modifiable lifestyle factors. This narrative review highlights that IUI success is strongly influenced by specific clinical thresholds and patient characteristics. Higher pregnancy rates are observed when endometrial thickness is within 6-10 mm, post-wash total motile sperm count is ≥5-10 million, and gonadotropin-based stimulation protocols are used. Additionally, maintaining a healthy BMI, ensuring adequate micronutrient intake, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol exposure appear to support more favorable outcomes. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating evidence-based clinical criteria with modifiable lifestyle optimization when selecting and managing IUI candidates.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.