This study will evaluate the potential benefits of uterine injury during the follicular phase of an intra-uterine insemination cycle on the rate of ongoing pregnancy during the first trimester ultrasound.
Infertility is defined as the absence of conception after a year of unprotected intercourse. In 10 to 30 % of patients, the cause of the infertility is unknown. An emerging practice in unexplained infertility has been to cause a uterine trauma prior to treatment. This is done by doing a small endometrial scratch with a pipelle. This intervention has been study in IVF and has been shown beneficial. Theoretically, the uterine scratching could increase the immune response and the vascularization of the endometrium which could help in embryo implantation. However, there is very few data concerning scratching in intrauterine insemination. The studies are mostly small studies and the results are often contradictory. In this randomized controlled trial, the investigators will evaluate the effect of uterine scratching during the follicular phase of an insemination cycle on the pregnancy rate of a large cohort of unexplained infertile couples.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
394
Endometrial Biopsy by aspiration with a pipelle
Clinique Ovo
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Efficacy - Pregnancy Rate measured during the first trimester ultrasound.
Ongoing pregnancy during the first trimester ultrasound after an intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycle.
Time frame: 13 weeks
Efficacy - Secondary pregnancy rate.
Ongoing pregnancy during the first trimester ultrasound in the 3 IUI cycles following a scratching
Time frame: 6 months
Safety - Side effects
Evaluate side effects related to the intrauterine scratching
Time frame: 6 months for all 3 intrauterine insemination
Safety - Complications
Evaluate complications related to intrauterine scratching
Time frame: 6 months for all 3 intrauterine insemination
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