TY - JOUR
T1 - Effectiveness of the postcoital test
T2 - Randomised controlled trial
AU - Oei, S. Guid
AU - Helmerhorst, Frans M.
AU - Bloemenkamp, Kitty W.M.
AU - Hollants, Frederieke A.M.
AU - Meerpoel, Debbie E.M.
AU - Keirse, Marc J.N.C.
PY - 1998/8/22
Y1 - 1998/8/22
N2 - Objectives: To investigate the impact of the postcoital test on the pregnancy rate among subfertile couples and on the number of other diagnostic tests and treatments. Design: Randomised controlled study. Setting: A university and two non-university teaching hospitals in the Netherlands. Subjects: New couples at infertility clinics, 1 March 1993 to 1 October 1995; randomisation to an intervention group (series of infertility investigations that include the postcoital test) or to a control group (series excluding the test). Main outcome measure: Cumulative pregnancy rate. Results: Of 736 consecutive new couples, 444 fulfilled the inclusion criteria and consented to participate (intervention group, 227; control group, 217). Treatment was given more often in the intervention group than in the control group (54% v 41%; difference 13% (95% confidence interval 4% to 22%)). Yet cumulative pregnancy rates at 24 months in the intervention group (49% (42% to 55%)) and the control group (48% (42% to 55%)) were closely similar (difference 1% (-9.0% to 9.0%)). Conclusion: Routine use of the postcoital test in infertility investigations leads to more tests and treatments but has no significant effect on the pregnancy rate.
AB - Objectives: To investigate the impact of the postcoital test on the pregnancy rate among subfertile couples and on the number of other diagnostic tests and treatments. Design: Randomised controlled study. Setting: A university and two non-university teaching hospitals in the Netherlands. Subjects: New couples at infertility clinics, 1 March 1993 to 1 October 1995; randomisation to an intervention group (series of infertility investigations that include the postcoital test) or to a control group (series excluding the test). Main outcome measure: Cumulative pregnancy rate. Results: Of 736 consecutive new couples, 444 fulfilled the inclusion criteria and consented to participate (intervention group, 227; control group, 217). Treatment was given more often in the intervention group than in the control group (54% v 41%; difference 13% (95% confidence interval 4% to 22%)). Yet cumulative pregnancy rates at 24 months in the intervention group (49% (42% to 55%)) and the control group (48% (42% to 55%)) were closely similar (difference 1% (-9.0% to 9.0%)). Conclusion: Routine use of the postcoital test in infertility investigations leads to more tests and treatments but has no significant effect on the pregnancy rate.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0032558325&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 9712594
AN - SCOPUS:0032558325
SN - 0959-8146
VL - 317
SP - 502
EP - 505
JO - British Medical Journal
JF - British Medical Journal
IS - 7157
ER -