Investigating the Success Rate of Sex Selection in Cycles of Intrauterine Insemination of Sperm Using an Albumin Gradient Method in Infertile Couples Referring to the Omid Persian Gulf Infertility Center of Bushehr, Iran

Objectives: Sex selection is an important concern for some couples. One of the relatively more simple and inexpensive methods, which does not need to use toxic chemicals to separate the Y and X sperms, is the Ericsson method. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the results of sex selection in infertile couples by using the albumin gradient method. Materials and Methods: The present study is a quasi-experimental clinical trial study, conducted on 80 infertile couples. After the induction of ovulation and a vaginal sonography, sperm samples were prepared using the albumin gradient method, after which intrauterine insemination (IUI) was conducted. The rate of successful sex selection was then calculated. Results: Among 80 cases of performed IUI, 22 cases (27.5%) were successful, among which 3 cases (8.3%) suffered miscarriages and 19 cases (23.7%) were associated with a successful pregnancy. The success rate of sex selection was 59.1% in successful pregnancies. In general, the sex selection success rate was higher for the male gender; as a result, the success rates in 68 requests for male sex and 12 requests for female sex totaled 12 cases (17.6 %) and 1 case (3.8%), respectively. Conclusion: Albumin gradient is an appropriate sex determination method in IUI cycles due to a 23.7% chance of pregnancy in infertile women, while the success rate is 59.1% in sex determination.