Treatment Trials

504 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions

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Implementing a Pilot Patient Navigator Program to Improve Access to Infertility Care for Underserved Patients
Description

This investigators will conduct a pilot study investigating the implementation of an infertility Patient Navigator (PN) program to mitigate challenges for underserved individuals at Boston Medical Center (BMC) seeking infertility care. The primary objective is to assess whether the PN program can significantly reduce time to completion of infertility evaluation and to initiation of fertility treatment (if recommended) for infertile patients from an underserved patient population. The study aims are to: 1. evaluate the impact of the PN program on timelines including obtaining commercial insurance coverage for infertility, expediting labwork/imaging, weight management, and partner urology appointments, and initiating fertility treatment; and 2. ascertain the medical literacy of participants with a validated tool to assess the impact of low medical literacy on PN facilitation. Participants will be contacted by the PN and provided with a survey instrument that will test their medical literacy. Then the PN will assist with scheduling cycle-based testing including labwork and uterine cavity evaluation, the partner's urology appointment, the patient's appointments such weight management/nutrition referral, mammograms (if indicated by age), and insurance counseling if the participant's current insurance does not cover infertility diagnostic testing and treatment. These tasks are part of pursuing fertility care at BMC. Duration of evaluation and time to treatment in age-matched control patients from the year prior that did not have PN services will be utilized as a comparison group. Regression analyses will be conducted to explore the association between utilization of a PN and pregnancy rates, considering potential confounding factors. Establishment of the pilot program will enable the investigators to apply for a larger institutional patient care grant going forward. Strategies developed through this research can may enhance fertility care access for underserved communities across various healthcare settings. By tailoring interventions to populations not usually able to access specialized healthcare services, this study pioneers a paradigm shift towards inclusivity and equity in reproductive medicine.

Conditions

Infertility

ACT for Infertility: Case Series
Description

In the United States, around 19% of reproductive-aged couples suffer from infertility. The psychological distress associated with infertility is well-established; those diagnosed commonly experience depression and anxiety symptoms, diminished quality of life, and relationship dissatisfaction. In the current study, the investigators report on a case series, in which up to 10 infertility patients will receive 12 sessions of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The overarching goal for the current case series is to determine whether ACT might be well-suited for infertility patients experiencing distress. The specific aims are: 1) to describe the components of the intervention that was delivered; 2) to determine the extent to which infertility patients perceive a 12-session ACT intervention beneficial and acceptable; 3) to describe change in mood, stress, and ACT processes across 12 sessions of ACT; and 4) to highlight potential processes through which ACT might promote benefits to the patient by describing how change in mood, stress, and ACT processes relate to each other over the course of 12 sessions of ACT.

Conditions

Infertility, Psychological Distress, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Psychological Flexibility

Uterine Transplant for Women With Absolute Uterine Factor Infertility (AUFI)
Description

Absolute Uterine Factor Infertility (AUFI) is due to congenital or surgical absence of a uterus or the presence of a nonfunctional uterus. Until 2014, the only option for women affected by Absolute Uterine Factor Infertility (AUFI) was adoption or surrogate motherhood. Uterine transplant is a new form of transplant to treat AUFI. The technique of uterus transplant was developed in Sweden with the transplantation of the uterus from a living donor to a woman affected by AUFI. Approximately 80 uterine transplantations have been performed, more than 50 of which have occurred within the past 3 years. To date, 34 children have been born from mothers who have received a living donor uterine transplant. This is a prospective study to treat Absolute Uterine Factor Infertility (AUFI) through uterine transplantation utilizing a uterus from a living or deceased donor resulting in live birth. A total of 10 biologically female (XX Karyotype) subjects will receive a uterine transplant.

Conditions

Mayer Rokitansky Kuster Hauser Syndrome, Absence of Uterus, Infertility of Uterine Origin

Recombinant FSH Investigation in the Treatment of Infertility With Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) (RITA-1)
Description

This trial investigates the effects of FE 999049 compared to placebo.

Conditions

Infertility

Attention to Variability During Infertility
Description

Infertility affects approximately one in seven couples, and it can be a devastating diagnosis and difficult experience for couples to endure. Ellen Langer, Ph.D., Director of the Langer Lab at Harvard, has spent several decades demonstrating evidence supporting a mind-body approach to improve wellbeing and overall functioning. Specifically, she asserts that Mindfulness in its most basic sense - paying attention in the moment - is enough to create both perceived (e.g., self-reported) and real (e.g., objective testing) change. Langer and her colleague, for example, demonstrated that "Trait mindfulness predicted the well-being of expecting mothers and better neonatal outcomes. Mindfulness training resulted in better health for the expecting mother". In this study, Mindfulness training refers to "attention to sensation variability." Such interventions are cost effective, minimally invasive, less time-consuming for practitioners and participants and generally easy to learn. Langer and her colleague's study refers to pregnancy. Infertility is unlike pregnancy in its exact clinical diagnosis. Nevertheless, similar to pregnancy, infertility is considered a clinical condition affecting the body, in this case the reproductive system. Therefore, based on the results of studies like Langer and her colleague's, that used participants with clinical conditions affecting the reproductive system, the investigators propose similar mindfulness intervention (attention to sensation variability) research with infertile individuals. However, the investigators intend to extend our examination to also include a treatment group with the partners of the infertile individuals, as little, if any research, has attempted to do so previously. The investigators hypothesize that state mindfulness (groups exposed to mindfulness intervention) will improve wellbeing in the infertile patient and her partner and that trait mindfulness will predict ability to become pregnant.

Conditions

Infertility, Infertility, Female, Infertility, Male

The Impact of a Self-help Coping App on Distress Levels in Men Experiencing Infertility
Description

The purpose of this study is to determine if the use of a new app, FertiStrong, is associated with decreased levels of anxiety and depression in men who have infertility or whose partner has infertility.

Conditions

Stress Reduction

Combined Letrozole and Clomid in Women With Infertility and PCOS
Description

This study evaluates the addition of clomid to letrozole for the treatment of infertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Half of the participants will receive letrozole and clomid in combination, while the other half will receive letrozole alone.

Conditions

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Infertility

Causes of Comorbid Infertility Among Women With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Description

The purpose of this study is to increase our understanding of infertility in women with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). In this study the study team will compare the differences in ovarian reserve (the ability to provide egg cells that are capable of fertilization), the frequency of ovulation and the number of pregnancies between women with and without RA. It is possible that RA activity and medications limit ovarian reserve and ovulation, which may increase infertility among women with RA. There are several suspected causes for infertility in RA, including age-related fertility decline, inflammatory changes that impact endometrial receptivity and discourage implantation, accelerated ovarian decline due to certain arthritis medications and increased frequency of anovulation (a menstrual cycle during which ovaries do not release an egg) due to RA activity. This study is the first step toward our long term goal of increasing the ability of all women with RA to build the family they desire.

Conditions

Infertility, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Androxal in Male Infertility
Description

This is an exploratory, single center, randomized, parallel, double-blind placebo- and active-controlled trial in adult males ages 18 to 35 years of age who have male infertility of unknown cause. Approximately 50 men will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups according to a 1:1 ratio. About half of the men will receive 25mg Androxal and half of the men will receive a placebo (non-active pill) for 16 weeks. This study will last approximately 4 months and involve up to 7 visits. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect the Androxal on sperm production.

Conditions

Infertility

The Value of HBA in the Evaluation of Idiopathic Infertility
Description

We would like to determine if HBA® testing of sperm in couples with presumed idiopathic infertility will reveal lower binding percentages than in couples with an identifiable cause of infertility either male factor or tubal factor

Conditions

Infertility

International NaProTechnology Evaluation and Surveillance of Treatment for Infertility and Miscarriage (iNEST)
Description

NaProTechnology (NPT) is a treatment option for infertility or miscarriage that identifies issues in a couple's fertility and fixes them to the extent possible by medical intervention. An important part of NPT is teaching couples to monitor the signs and symptoms of the woman's fertility cycle (menstrual cycle) with the Creighton Model FertilityCare System (CrMS). The purpose of the study is to look at outcomes among couples who consider or get NPT treatment to help them have a live birth. Results from the study will be used to answer questions such as: How many couples who use NPT get pregnant and have a baby? How can NPT treatment be improved? Does NPT treatment have fewer long-term health risks for the resulting children than other fertility treatments? What types of characteristics or environmental exposures influence whether NPT will be successful for a specific couple? To be eligible for the iNEST study, a couple must have a consultation with a NPT-trained clinician who is participating in iNEST.

Conditions

Infertility, Miscarriage

Efficacy Study of Preconception Treatment of an Asymptomatic Bacterial Infection in an Infertility Population
Description

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal infection characterized by a pathologic shift in the normal vaginal flora. BV has been associated with a number of poor reproductive outcomes, including infertility, preterm labor and premature rupture of membranes. If BV does disrupt normal embryologic development, then the treatment of BV prior to conception may improve implantation rates and other pregnancy outcomes in the infertile population. This is a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which infertile women undergoing intrauterine insemination or embryo transfer are screened for BV prior to treatment. Those patients who screen positive for BV will then be randomized into the treatment arm(metronidazole 500mg by mouth twice daily for 7 days) or the control arm (placebo by mouth twice daily for 7 days). The primary outcome, positive pregnancy test rate (i.e. biochemical pregnancy rate), will then be assessed. Secondary outcomes, such as clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, and live birth rate will also be examined.

Conditions

Vaginosis, Bacterial, Infertility, Miscarriage

Skin Sterility After Ethyl-Chloride Spray
Description

The aim of this study is to investigate sterility of ethyl-chloride topical anesthetic spray when used prior to an injection. The hypothesis is that the spray does not change the sterility of the injection site after skin is prepped.

Conditions

Skin Sterility After Use of Ethyl-chloride Spray.

Study of Gene Associations and Infertility
Description

The purpose of this this study is to use DNA screening strategies to identify genes and localize genomic regions that are differentially expressed in patients with infertility to further understand the genetic basis for reproductive competence.

Conditions

Infertility

Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Three Dosage Strengths of Pulsatile GnRH Delivered From a Iontophoretic Patch Compared to Oral Treatment With Clomiphene or Placebo in Infertile Females
Description

The primary objective of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of pulsatile GnRH delivered from a iontophoretic patch (Lutrepatch) for induction of ovulation in women with anovulatory/ oligoovulatory infertility, compared to placebo and to a reference treatment with clomiphene citrate.

Conditions

Infertility

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Acupuncture for Infertility
Description

The aim of this investigation is to determine the value of combining acupuncture with infertility patients undergoing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). The investigators will measure the outcomes of endometrial lining, uterine blood flow, hormones, stress levels, and pregnancy and live birth rates.

Conditions

Infertility

Study of Psychosexual Impact of Cancer-Related Infertility in Women: Third Party Reproductive Assistance
Description

This study aims to learn about the needs and feelings of women who are infertile. Being infertile means not being able to have a child without the help of a third party. There are other options for building a family. The researchers are interested in the participants' thoughts about these options and want to learn about the experiences of infertile women due to cancer treatment as well as women who are infertile due to other causes. The researchers hope that what they learn will allow them to better care for infertile women in the future.

Conditions

Cervical Cancer, Endometrial Cancer, Leukemia, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Uterine Cancer, Vaginal Cancer, Infertility

Investigation of a Long-Acting Follicle Stimulating Hormone in Infertile Women Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
Description

This is a Phase 2, interventional, prospective, multi-center, randomized, assessor-blind, active-comparator, dose-finding study to evaluate a new investigational long-acting follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in infertile women who are undergoing an assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedure (In vitro fertilization/Intra cytoplasmic sperm injection \[IVF/ICSI\]). This study will compare 3 doses of the investigational drug versus a currently marketed drug follitropin alfa (Gonal-f® revised formulation female \[RFF\] Pen) in regards to the number of fertilized oocytes.

Conditions

Infertility

Pulsatile GnRH in Anovulatory Infertility
Description

The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of synthetic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) upon the pituitary and ovaries of women with infertility. Women diagnosed with GnRH deficiency, hypothalamic amenorrhea or acquired hypogonadic hypogonadism, will participate in this study. It is hoped that administration of GnRH will lead to proper stimulation of the pituitary gland and to normal ovulation and menstruation. \*\*WE ARE CURRENTLY RECRUITING ONLY WOMEN WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF IDIOPATHIC HYPOGONADIC HYPOGONADISM (IHH)\*\* Pulsatile GnRH has been approved by the FDA for use in women with primary amenorrhea due to complete GnRH deficiency. The overall goals of this protocol are to continue to use pulsatile GnRH in GnRH-deficient and other anovulatory women for ovulation induction and to examine specific physiologic hypotheses, which can only be addressed in this patient population.

Conditions

Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism, Amenorrhea, Kallmann's Syndrome

Human MATER and Idiopathic Infertility
Description

Approximately 15 percent of couples experience infertility, yet no abnormalities can be detected in the man or the woman. In a number of couples, their embryos unexpectedly slow down growth or stop growth completely. Some of these situations may be genetically determined. For instance, a portion of cases may be caused by poor egg quality related to genetic or functional deficiencies in heretofore unidentified human maternal effect genes. A model has been developed of such unexplained fertility by creating a mouse line lacking a critical maternal effect gene. (Maternal effect genes produce mRNA or proteins that accumulate in the egg and are required for normal early embryonic development.) This pilot project will test the hypothesis that a similar defect may be a cause of human infertility. Thirty cubic centimeters of blood will be collected from 40 women who have a clinical history consistent with a defective maternal effect gene. DNA from these blood cells will be examined and stored. Some of the blood cells will be treated so that they can be frozen and grown in the laboratory to produce more DNA in the future. If certain mutations are not found, that means that the prevalence of such mutations is less than 10 percent, and investigators may initiate another study with 100 women. If a common mutation is found in at least four patients, the investigators will seek to collect DNA from 150 normal fertile control women for comparison. This project is purely investigational; therefore, findings will not be shared with participants. ...

Conditions

Infertility

The Effect of Acupuncture on Infertility With In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Patients
Description

Infertility is a common problem with increased incidence. In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is by far the most commonly used treatment. The success rate of IVF is still low. This study examines the effect of acupuncture on IVF pregnancy rate, as well as possible mechanisms. It is hypothesized that acupuncture can significantly increase the IVF pregnancy rate.

Conditions

Infertility

Conventional Infertility Treatment vs. Fast Track to IVF
Description

The purpose of this randomized prospective clinical trial is to determine whether an infertility treatment that moves quickly to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is more cost effective than the usual treatment strategy which includes various combinations of infertility drugs and intrauterine insemination (IUI) prior to utilizing In Vitro Fertilization.

Conditions

Infertility

Infertility Therapy for Women Age Thirty-eight and Older
Description

This study will determine the most effective treatment strategy for infertile couples who present when the female partner is 38 years to the 43rd birthday and the couples are determined to have a reasonable chance for success.

Conditions

Infertility

Infertility Markers in Serum, Urine, and Follicular Fluid
Description

This study is only collecting specimens from current patients of PENN Fertility Care. The purpose of this investigation is to assess if markers of oxidative stress that are known to be associated with other medical conditions can be detected in women undergoing infertility treatment and normal women of similar age. Oxidative stress may affect a woman's eggs or the follicular cells that surround and nurture them. Other markers of to be investigated include markers of cellular aging and DNA structural changes. Presence of these markers will be compared in blood and urine samples taken during infertility treatment, and follicular fluid at the time of IVF (if applicable).

Conditions

Infertility

Vitamin E and Male Infertility
Description

The goal of this study is to determine whether there is a correlation between the levels of Vitamin E in sperm and sperm DNA fragmentation. Previous research has shown that damage to the DNA in sperm may cause infertility or increase the chances of miscarriage, if the damage is extensive (eg. present in the overwhelming majority of sperm). Some studies suggest that DNA damage can be caused by oxidative stress. Antioxidants, such as Vitamin E, which are present in some foods, can prevent damage to cells from "free radicals", which are naturally present by-products of metabolism. We ask whether there is a correlation between sperm DNA damage and Vitamin E

Conditions

Male Infertility

Effects of Hormonal Infertility Treatment on Cognition in Pre-Menopausal Women
Description

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of marked alterations in ovarian steroid hormones on cognitive functions in women. Sex hormones and stress hormones of women awaiting or undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) will be compared with levels of women adopting children and women on oral contraceptives.

Conditions

Infertility

Treatment of Infertility in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Description

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting up to 10% of women. The primary symptoms of PCOS are menstrual irregularities, increased body and facial hair, acne, and infertility. This study will test a combination of medications in women with PCOS to determine which works best to overcome infertility.

Conditions

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Infertility, Pregnancy

Endometrial Biopsy in Infertile Patients
Description

When a woman becomes pregnant, the fertilized egg attaches itself to the lining of the uterus (endometrium). The endometrium is constantly changing throughout a woman's menstrual cycle in response to the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. The endometrium must have certain characteristics (be at a specific phase in its cycle) in order for the fertilized egg to successfully attach. Infertility may be caused by an "out of phase" endometrium (i.e., the endometrium doesn't have the right characteristics when the fertilized egg reaches it). The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the endometrial biopsy is useful in predicting the potential for becoming pregnant and bearing a child.

Conditions

Infertility

Male Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technologies Research Biobank
Description

The objective of this research is to build a biobank of biological male specimens used for diagnostics and treatment of infertility or assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

Conditions

Male Infertility, Infertility (IVF Patients)

A Study of SHJ002 Sterile Ophthalmic Solution for Myopia Control
Description

The objective of this study is to explore the safety and efficacy of SHJ002 Sterile Ophthalmic Solution relative to atropine in myopia control SHJ002 is an antisense oligonucleotide to neutralize a specific microRNA.

Conditions

Myopia, Progressive