Purpose In IVF procedures, endometrial function is a limiting factor of the pregnancy rate and the aims of this study is to determine whether seminal plasma insemination at ovum pick-up in IVF has any effect on pregnancy rate. Methods We designed a single center, 2 parallel groups, randomized pilot study. All couples undergoing an IVF procedure in our clinic between January 2010 and December 2011 were considered for enrollment in the study. The patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into two groups by simple randomization: the seminal plasma group (SP group) and the reference group (noSP group). We applied seminal plasma into the cervix and vaginal vault at the time of the OPU in the patients of the SP group. The primary outcome was the clinical pregnancy rate in the SP group compared with the noSP group and the secondary outcome measure was the implantation rate. Results 400 patients met the inclusion criteria and were randomized. 54 patients were excluded from the study mainly because they didn't undergo the embryo transfer. Finally, 164 patients were included in the SP group and 182 patients in the noSP group and analyzed. We found a statistically non-significant increase in the pregnancy rate in the SP group (55.5 % versus 44 %, p=0.09) and a statistically significant increase in the implantation rate (34.7 % versus 27.5 %, p=0.026). Conclusions Our results support the idea that SP insemination may have the potential to increase pregnancy rate in IVF procedures but further studies must be carried out.

Objective. Patients with more than two spontaneous pregnancy losses are diagnosed with recurrent pregnancy loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate the IR (insulin resistance) in patients with idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss. Material and Method. A single center, case control study was performed on one hundred eighteen women divided into case group (with at least two pregnancy losses, earlier than 20 weeks of gestation, and negative for the recurrent pregnancy loss testing) and control group (with at least one live birth, no pregnancy loss). FG (fasting glucose) and FI (fasting insulin) were determined for all patients. IR was evaluated by HOMA-IR index. Results. There were not significant differences between the mean age and BMI in cases and controls (P > 0.05). Fasting glucose was significantly higher in the control group (85.6 versus 79.8 P < 0.01), but fasting insulin (15.24 versus 12.83, P < 0.001) and HOMA-IR (2.98 versus 2.69, P < 0.05) were significantly higher in the case group. Conclusion. In women with idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss FI and IR are higher than those in women without spontaneous abortion.