30 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
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).
Development of multiple follicles and pregnancy in ovulatory women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation as part of an assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycle.
This trial investigates the effects of FE 999049 compared to placebo.
This trial investigates the effects of FE 999049 compared to placebo.
The purpose of the study is to assess the safety of Progesterone Vaginal Ring (PVR) in women undergoing fresh embryo transfer (ART).
This is a double blind, randomized, placebo controlled clinical trial to test the efficacy of the antioxidant formulation Fertilix® in lowering the levels of damaged sperm DNA in men diagnosed with moderate to high Sperm Oxidative DNA Damage (SODD)
The purpose of the study is to collate local information to better understand the motivations, accessibility and frequency of assisted reproductive technology (ART) use in the community.
This study assesses risk factors for depressive relapse in women undergoing fertility treatment with histories of major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar disorder. The study is focused on the acute risk factors of depressive relapse. The investigators hypothesize that risk for depressive relapse will be greater among women who stop antidepressants compared to those who continue treatment with these agents.
Human fallopian tube secretes high concentration of prostacyclin. Fallopian tube is the site for early embryo development. The effect of prostacyclin on human early embryo development is waiting to be clarified. The study hypothesis is prostacyclin can enhance early embryo development.
One of the most widely used procedures in reproductive medicine technologies is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). During the IVF procedure, there are sometimes unused embryos that are frozen to be used at later times. If these embryos are thawed and transferred back to the mother, proper development of the uterine lining plays an important role in outcome of pregnancy. Electro-acupuncture (EA), a technique where electrical current is applied to the needle to stimulate an acupoint, has been shown to increase uterine blood flow, increasing the likelihood of developing a more ideal endometrial lining. This randomized study aims to evaluate the impact of EA on endometrium undergoing medicated frozen embryo transfer cycle preparation. The treatment group will receive four acupuncture treatments during the medicated uterine preparation. Endometrial thickness will be compared to a group that does not receive acupuncture.
This is a prospective randomized trial comparing the outcome in women undergoing IVF/ICSI when taking their gonadotropin dosage in the morning (am) or evening (pm).
Whole blood and urine samples will be collected from pregnant woman of gestational age 36-56 days as confirmed by artificial reproductive technology (ART). The samples will be used to develop a prenatal sex test using circulating cell free fetal DNA (ccffDNA) in maternal plasma or urine.
This is a proof of principle study that investigates heart rate variability differences in fetal and neonatal life in a longitudinal study design and compares two subject groups, offspring conceived using in-vitro fertilization and conceived naturally.
The goals of this research proposal are to further our understanding of the reproductive aging process in women and to improve our ability to clinically assess and model reproductive aging. Reproductive aging is a continuous process that begins many years prior to menopause. Women in their late 30s and early 40s usually maintain normal menstrual function and ovulatory status, yet fertility in these women is considerably compromised compared to younger women. The primary mechanism of reproductive aging is through the process of ovarian primordial follicle (egg) depletion, a process that exhibits considerable variation between women. As a result, the age at which an individual begins to experience infertility and menstrual cycle changes secondary to follicle depletion also varies significantly and is difficult to predict. The clinical assessment of the number of primordial follicles remaining in the ovary has traditionally relied upon the measurement of ovarian or pituitary hormones such as FSH, estradiol, and inhibin B. Unfortunately, these measures are all indirect and poorly sensitive in the assessment of ovarian reserve. More recently, serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and the ovarian antral follicle count have been utilized as clinical measures of ovarian reserve. Both have been correlated with chronological age and have some predictive power in determining stimulation quantity (the number of oocytes obtained at the time of egg-recovery) in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment cycles. Reproductive aging in women; however, is more than just the depletion of oocytes from a woman's ovaries, but also involves a decline in oocyte quality. The predictive value of these clinical markers of ovarian reserve with regards to oocyte quality is unknown. Additionally, new tools developed to assess biological aging in other organ systems such as white blood cell telomere length and the measurement of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) through skin autofluorescence have not been evaluated with respect to the reproductive aging process. This proposal seeks to develop better models of normal female reproductive aging by identifying novel markers of ovarian reserve and determining their relationship with both oocyte quantity and quality obtained during IVF treatment cycles.
This is a prospective randomized study evaluating dosing frequency of gonadotropin administration in ART cycles.
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.
The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the ViaCell's product media for freezing and thawing human eggs for future use in assisted reproductive technology.
The purpose of this study is to help expectant single mothers build a coparenting bond and improve communication with a support person (co-caregiver). Participation will include completing two online surveys (one at 12-30 weeks gestation \& one at 3 months postpartum), providing two at-home bloodspot collections and return via mail. Studies suggest that stress increases inflammation. Investigators aim to explore this by collecting a small amount of blood at the first and last session; attending 9 virtual one-two hour Family Foundations (FF) intervention sessions (at no cost to participants) with a supportive co-caregiver (total time commitment will be 18 hours, max, over a 6 month period).
The objective of this study is to determine the impact on clinical pregnancy rate of withholding routine prophylactic antibiotic therapy during IVF. The hypothesis is that withholding antibiotic prophylaxis will be non-inferior to routine administration. To test this hypothesis, the investigators will conduct a randomized controlled non inferiority trial. Additionally an exploratory study will be conducted among the first 30 patients undergoing their first cycle enrolled to evaluate the microbiome across the IVF cycle, in addition to the human virome
This study is aiming to characterize the elasticity of the female reproductive tract including the uterus, cervix and ovary using shear wave elastography at different times during the menstrual cycle and define the standard reference range of normal uterine and ovarian elasticity. By doing so, the potential of using shear wave elastography to diagnose and predict outcomes for patients seeking fertility treatment might be established.
Currently, patients presenting to the Fertility and Reproductive Medicine Center meet with an English-speaking provider and communicate through an interpreter, as none of the physicians speak Spanish. However, this study PI is a native Spanish speaker and certified bilingual clinician. Thus, this study is looking to evaluate whether or not the use of an interpreter delays completion of testing and initiation of fertility treatment. The medically indicated testing, procedures, and course of treatment will not be altered as a result of participation in the study. Participants will be asked to complete a survey in their preferred language to gauge satisfaction and communication efficacy. This proposed study is significant as it seeks to address a critical gap in the understanding of how language concordance between healthcare providers and patients influences treatment outcomes in fertility care. With Spanish being the most commonly spoken non-English language in the U.S., evaluating the impact of Spanish language skills in medical care is both timely and essential. This research will shed light on whether Spanish-speaking patients experience better treatment progression and outcomes when cared for by language-concordant providers versus when interpreters are used in fertility care. This prospective study will be conducted at Washington University's Fertility and Reproductive Medicine Center over a 12-month period. The investigators aim to enroll a total of 70 Spanish-speaking patients, based on previous patient trends at the Center 35 will be randomized to the intervention group (being evaluated and treated by a Spanish-speaking provider), and 35 will be randomized to standard of care (communicating with an English-speaking provider through an interpreter).
The purpose of this study is to understand why some women are infertile (unable to conceive a child). The investigators hope to learn if an endometrial biopsy after egg retrieval is feasible for detecting biomarkers for endometriosis and predicting implantation and pregnancy rate after embryo transfer. This study design will provide for the first time, an opportunity to compare endometrial biopsy material from hyperstimulated (gonadotropin treated) subjects after egg retrieval. If successful, it would provide a new protocol for women with unexplained infertility or those with known endometriosis to avoid poor IVF outcomes.
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is an assisted reproductive technology (ART) by which embryos, created through in vitro fertilization (IVF), can be screened for genetic conditions or traits before they are implanted into a woman s uterus. Within the past few years, a controversial non-medical use of PGD has gained recognition as having possible significant ethical implications. Non-medical sex selection (NMSS) describes the use of PGD technology to choose the sex of a child for social, as opposed to medical, reasons. In the US and a select few other countries, it is legal to use NMSS for family balancing, or the intentional selection of an underrepresented sex to balance a family where the majority of the children are of one sex. Proponents of family balancing believe that NMSS is an expression of reproductive autonomy and is ethically acceptable on those grounds. Opponents are more likely to cite beneficence (toward the existing children and the potential future child) and justice (resource allocation and access, for example) as the basis for concerns around NMSS and family balancing specifically. In the US and other countries, healthcare providers (HCPs) are often the gatekeepers to this technology. There is little research exploring the experiences of HCPs with PGD and NMSS. The Moral Experience framework (Hunt and Carnevale, 2011) is useful for understanding the potential concerns of HCPs as well as their feelings and behaviors evoked by lived and hypothetical experiences around NMSS. Also of interest is how HCPs feel that decisions about NMSS are made and their preferences as to how they should be made. Finally, there is concern that NMSS may be the first in a line of non-medical uses for PGD and that a slippery slope toward what some describe as designer babies will follow. We are interested in eliciting the traits that HCPs believe are hypothetically appropriate or inappropriate for PGD and how they make the distinction. Interviews with HCPs (OBGYNs and reproductive endocrinologists) on these topics will be transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis in order to identify common themes. An understanding of the experiences and attitudes of this stakeholder population can help clarify current issues at individual, societal, and global levels and future directions for research and policy....
The purpose of this study is to determine if sexual intercourse lowers serum progesterone in women using vaginal progesterone gel (Crinone®), and increases serum progesterone in their male sexual partners. We hypothesize, based on previous estrogen studies done by our group, that intercourse will interfere with absorption of vaginal progesterone.
The overarching goal of this trial is to determine if an intervention comprising folic acid and zinc dietary supplementation improves semen quality and indirectly fertility outcomes (i.e., live birth rate) among couples trying to conceive and seeking assisted reproduction. The following study objectives underlie successful attainment of the overarching research goal: 1. To estimate the effect of folic acid and zinc dietary supplementation on semen quality parameters, including but not limited to concentration, motility, morphology, and sperm DNA integrity, relative to the placebo group. 2. To estimate the effect of folic acid and zinc dietary supplementation on fertility treatment outcomes \[fertilization, embryo quality, implantation/human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) confirmed pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, live birth\], relative to the placebo group. 3. To estimate the association between semen quality parameters, sperm DNA integrity and fertility treatment outcomes (fertilization, embryo quality, clinical pregnancy, live birth) and to identify the best combination of semen quality parameters for prediction of clinical pregnancy and live birth. 4. To estimate the effect of folic acid and zinc dietary supplementation on fertilization rates among couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology procedures, relative to the placebo group. 5. To estimate the effect of folic acid and zinc dietary supplementation on embryonic quality among couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology procedures, relative to the placebo group.
To provide a novel fertility preservation option for patients facing a fertility threatening cancer diagnosis or treatment regimen by establishing an ovarian tissue cryopreservation program. To determine if ovarian tissue cryopreservation provides women with a useful, successful option for fertility preservation The hypothesis is that ovarian tissue cryopreservation for fertility preservation provides an alternative option for fertility preservation.
The objective of this study was to compare the fertilization rate between the combination of Menopur and Bravelle mixed in the same syringe and Menopur alone, both administered subcutaneously (SC), in subjects undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). Additionally the study assessed subjects' ability to mix and store the combination of Menopur and Bravelle and to assess safety of the Menopur and Bravelle combination.
This study aims to assess the feasibility of a novel standard of care technique for intrauterine insemination (IUI) in HIV-discordant couples in the United States. This study will involve couples in which the male partner is HIV positive, but the female partner is negative. The investigators will institute a protocol similar to those used presently throughout Europe with good success. To date, no HIV seroconversions have occurred in over 4000 inseminations performed in HIV serodiscordant couples. All male subjects will be on stable HAART, and have undetectable serum viral loads prior to insemination. Semen samples will be subjected to a stringent sperm wash procedure and screened for HIV RNA. Female subjects will be followed post-insemination for seroconversion and pregnancy. Infants will be followed for seroconversion at birth through 4 months of age.
Improvements in In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) outcomes have largely been due to the generation of excess embryos allowing for multiple embryo transfer. Unfortunately this has also increased the risk of multiple pregnancy with associated maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. The investigators believe that the concentration of nitric oxide metabolites measured in the culture medium from the first day of culture can identify the best quality embryos allowing us to transfer a limited number of embryos without compromising the optimum chance for pregnancy.
The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between environmental agents and reproductive health. Environmental agents of interest include exposure to chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), flame retardants, dioxins, bisphenol A, phthalates, pesticides, and metals like lead and cadmium. We are also interested in the relationship between reproductive health and lifestyle risk factors, such as exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Enrollees are asked to participate in this study because they and their partner are patients of the MGH Fertility Center, trying to get pregnant, either naturally or by undergoing Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and/or In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).