Pregnancy and adoption among infertile women following ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination

Abstract

Using a retrospective cohort study, 214 clinically diagnosed infertile women who underwent ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination between 1991 and 1994 at a hospital-based centre of reproductive medicine, were followed up 5 years after treatment to assess their overall health, pregnancy and adoption status. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for these outcomes, adjusted for age, education, infertility diagnosis, infertility status, parity, number of prior intrauterine insemination cycles, pregnancy following intrauterine insemination treatment, and undergoing other assisted reproductive procedures. Significant increased likelihood of pregnancy was observed for younger women, for women with secondary versus primary infertility, and for women who underwent other assisted reproductive procedures versus those who did not. Significant decreased likelihood of adoption was observed for women with a lower versus a higher educational level, for women with secondary versus primary infertility, and for parous versus nulliparous women. Although the analyses were mostly based on self-reported data, infertile women may adopt or conceive with or without assisted reproductive techniques resulting in minimal change in overall health, and eventually adjust to infertility treatment and its aftermath.