A unit regular semigroup [1, 4] is a regular monoid S such that H1 ∩ A(x) ≠ Ø for every xɛS, where H1, is the group of units and A(x) = {y ɛ S; xyx = x} is the set of associates (or pre-inverses) of x. A uniquely unit regular semigroupis a regular monoid 5 such that |H1 ∩ A(x)| = 1. Here we shall consider a more general situation. Specifically, we consider a regular semigroup S and a subsemigroup T with the property that |T ∩ A(x) = 1 for every x ɛ S. We show that T is necessarily a maximal subgroup Hα for some idempotent α. When Sis orthodox, α is necessarily medial (in the sense that x = xαx for every x ɛ 〈E〉) and αSα is uniquely unit orthodox. When S is orthodox and α is a middle unit (in the sense that xαy = xy for all x, y ɛ S), we obtain a structure theorem which generalises the description given in [2] for uniquely unit orthodox semigroups in terms of a semi-direct product of a band with a identity and a group.