Vial Selection and Pricing

Historical data going back 25 years suggested using 10M motile sperm for IUI. Numerous scientific papers have since contradicted this finding and failed to establish an optimal number of motile sperm for IUI. Most studies used partner sperm for IUI and not donor sperm from a sperm bank.

When assessing donor sperm, there is scientific evidence that 5M motile sperm results in the same pregnancy rates as 10M motile sperm (Hochberg 2024).

Based on this data, a single insemination with 5M motile sperm can be used for IUI.

Data suggests that the best ongoing pregnancy rates are observed when inseminating 8M motile sperm during the fertile window.

Pregnancy rates are optimized when at least 2 inseminations are performed during the fertile window.

Based on these observations:

1. Recommend using 2 x 5M ICI to achieve 2 inseminations and the delivery of 8M motile sperm during the fertile window

2. Alternatively, 2 x 10M ICI to achieve 2 inseminations and the delivery of 8M motile sperm with each insemination during the fertile window

3. Alternatively using 1 x 10M ICI to achieve delivery 8M motile sperm during the fertile window

Most IVF cycles are performed using Intra-cytoplasmic-sperm-injection (ICSI) whereby one sperm is injected into one egg. The number of motile sperm needed for IVF/ICSI is therefore very low.

Some IVF labs prefer washed sperm (IUI preparation) while others prefer unwashed sperm (ICI preparation) to wash themselves. Some IVF labs request vials with a higher sperm count. Please check with your clinic before ordering vials.

The normal range for total motile count in an ejaculate is > 20M sperm. Some recipients and healthcare providers prefer to use vials with motile sperm counts comparable to that seen with a normal ejaculate.