Purpose  

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of basal serum follicle stimulating hormone and estradiol levels in predicting pregnancy in women undergoing artificial insemination with donor sperm for severe male factor infertility.

Method  

A retrospective chart review of 48 women who had at least 2 cycles of artificial insemination with donor sperm and who had undergone testing for basal serum follicle stimulating hormone and estradiol levels prior to or during therapy.

Results  

There was no difference in age or mean basal serum follicle stimulating hormone between women who conceived (clinical pregnancy) and those who did not. Women who conceived had significantly lower mean serum basal estradiol levels (P = 0.02) and significantly fewer numbers of treatment cycles (P = 0.041). The highest pregnancy rate was among those women with normal basal serum follicle stimulating hormone and estradiol levels. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed basal serum estradiol to be a more reliable predictor of pregnancy than follicle stimulating hormone.

Conclusions  

Basal serum follicle stimulating hormone and estradiol levels may be useful in predicting success with artificial insemination with donor sperm. It may be useful to obtain basal serum follicle stimulating hormone and estradiol prior to initiating artificial insemination with donor sperm.