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Natural Versus Programmed Frozen Embryo Transfer (NatPro) (NatPro)

Primary Purpose

Pregnancy Related, Pre-Eclampsia

Status
Recruiting
Phase
Phase 3
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Modified natural cycle
Programmed cycle
Sponsored by
JHSPH Center for Clinical Trials
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional prevention trial for Pregnancy Related focused on measuring frozen embryo transfer, infertility, in vitro fertilization

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - 41 Years (Adult)FemaleAccepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

To be eligible, subjects must meet all these criteria:

  • Age 18-39 years at the time that embryos were created if no PGT testing was performed. If PGT testing was performed and indicates that an embryo is euploid, the patient can be included if she was age 18-41 years at the time that the embryo was created.
  • Age 18-41 years at the time of randomization as advancing age itself becomes a significant risk for preeclampsia
  • Normal uterine cavity as assessed by saline infusion sonohysterogram, hysterosalpingogram, or hysteroscopy within one year of the enrollment visit, and repeated at the discretion of the investigator
  • Regular menstrual cycle length (approximately 24-35 days) indicative of ovulatory cycles.
  • Willing to undergo elective single embryo transfer
  • Body Mass Index <=40
  • If Body Mass Index is over 30 or individual has other risk factors for diabetes, normal hemoglobin A1C
  • Prior to enrollment, participant will have at least one vitrified blastocyst with euploid result by pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT-A) or at least one vitrified blastocyst of fair or better morphologic quality if no PGT-A results are available.
  • Willingness to be randomized to either a modified natural or programmed cycle, with a willingness to administer intramuscular progesterone in oil if assigned to the programmed cycle.
  • Normal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), according to local laboratory standards (or TSH level with a clinically insignificant abnormality per the site director), within one year of study enrollment and repeated at the discretion of the investigator. Use of thyroid medication is permitted.

Exclusion criteria

To be eligible, subjects must not meet any one of these criteria:

  • Medical contraindication to pregnancy
  • Embryos created using donor oocytes
  • Embryo donation
  • Gestational carrier
  • Reciprocal IVF (one female partner carrying pregnancy, other female partner as source of eggs)
  • Fresh embryos created from frozen oocytes. Patients with frozen embryos created from frozen oocytes can be included.
  • Recurrent implantation failure defined as no clinical pregnancy with ≥ 2 prior consecutive embryo transfers unless patient also had successful live birth between or after the failed embryo transfers
  • Anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome or rheumatologic disease requiring chronic systemic medications
  • Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
  • History of >1 pregnancy loss in the second or third trimester
  • Uncontrolled hypertension
  • Untreated hydrosalpinx (i.e., hydrosalpinx in situ which has not been ligated or removed)
  • Mullerian uterine anomaly, if not correctable
  • Physician recommendation to perform the embryo transfer outside of the timing specified by the protocol
  • Contraindication to any medication which must be used in preparation for the frozen embryo transfer (i.e., estradiol, progesterone, hCG)

Sites / Locations

  • Stanford UniversityRecruiting
  • YaleRecruiting
  • Fertility Institute of HawaiiRecruiting
  • Northwestern UniversityRecruiting
  • Johns HopkinsRecruiting
  • Shady Grove FertilityRecruiting
  • Boston IVFRecruiting
  • University of RochesterRecruiting
  • Atrium HealthRecruiting
  • Cleveland Clinic FoundationRecruiting
  • University of OklahomaRecruiting
  • University of PennsylvaniaRecruiting
  • CARE FertilityRecruiting
  • West Virginia University Center for Reproductive MedicineRecruiting

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Active Comparator

Active Comparator

Arm Label

Modified natural cycle

Programmed cycle

Arm Description

corpus luteum present

corpus luteum absent

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Preeclampsia
Frequency of preeclampsia, as defined by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines for hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (Obstetrics & Gynecology 2020;135:e237-e260)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Full Information

First Posted
August 27, 2020
Last Updated
September 14, 2023
Sponsor
JHSPH Center for Clinical Trials
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT04551807
Brief Title
Natural Versus Programmed Frozen Embryo Transfer (NatPro)
Acronym
NatPro
Official Title
Multi-center, Parallel-group, Randomized Controlled Trial of Modified Natural Versus Programmed Cycles for Frozen Embryo Transfers and Their Association With Preeclampsia and Live Births
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
September 2023
Overall Recruitment Status
Recruiting
Study Start Date
September 16, 2020 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
April 1, 2025 (Anticipated)
Study Completion Date
August 31, 2025 (Anticipated)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor
Name of the Sponsor
JHSPH Center for Clinical Trials

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No
Data Monitoring Committee
Yes

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
NatPro is a two-arm, parallel-group, multi-center, randomized trial in which women undergoing frozen embryo transfer (FET) will be randomized to receive either a modified natural cycle (corpus luteum present) or a programmed cycle (corpus luteum absent).
Detailed Description
NatPro is a two-arm, parallel-group, multi-center, randomized trial in which women undergoing FET will be randomized to receive either a modified natural cycle (corpus luteum present) or a programmed cycle (corpus luteum absent). The study will implement a stratified randomization design to balance the use of pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) across the two treatment arms. Each participant will have up to 3 FET cycles until live birth occurs, or the participant has no embryos available for transfer. Primary endpoints will be the proportion of women experiencing preeclampsia comparing modified natural to programmed FET among women with viable pregnancy (defined as pregnancy lasting at least 20 weeks) and the cumulative proportion of women having live births in the two arms.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Pregnancy Related, Pre-Eclampsia
Keywords
frozen embryo transfer, infertility, in vitro fertilization

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Prevention
Study Phase
Phase 3
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
Outcomes Assessor
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
788 (Anticipated)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Modified natural cycle
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
corpus luteum present
Arm Title
Programmed cycle
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
corpus luteum absent
Intervention Type
Procedure
Intervention Name(s)
Modified natural cycle
Intervention Description
This treatment protocol is defined as a modified natural cycle as the participant will be instructed to (1) administer human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to assist with timing of the embryo transfer and (2) supplement the luteal phase with a low dose of progesterone.
Intervention Type
Procedure
Intervention Name(s)
Programmed cycle
Intervention Description
This protocol is designated as programmed because the endometrial development occurs only in association with administration of estradiol and progesterone. No ovulation occurs due to suppression of follicle development by the estradiol and the timing of the transfer is based on the number of days elapsed following initiation of exogenous progesterone.
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Preeclampsia
Description
Frequency of preeclampsia, as defined by American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines for hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (Obstetrics & Gynecology 2020;135:e237-e260)
Time Frame
During pregnancy through the post-partum period, according to ACOG guidelines (typically between 20 weeks gestation and 6 weeks post-delivery)

10. Eligibility

Sex
Female
Gender Based
Yes
Gender Eligibility Description
Women attempting to get pregnant using frozen embryos
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
41 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion criteria To be eligible, subjects must meet all these criteria: Age 18-39 years at the time that embryos were created if no PGT testing was performed. If PGT testing was performed and indicates that an embryo is euploid, the patient can be included if she was age 18-41 years at the time that the embryo was created. Age 18-41 years at the time of randomization as advancing age itself becomes a significant risk for preeclampsia Normal uterine cavity as assessed by saline infusion sonohysterogram, hysterosalpingogram, or hysteroscopy within one year of the enrollment visit, and repeated at the discretion of the investigator Regular menstrual cycle length (approximately 24-35 days) indicative of ovulatory cycles. Willing to undergo elective single embryo transfer Body Mass Index <=40 If Body Mass Index is over 30 or individual has other risk factors for diabetes, normal hemoglobin A1C Prior to enrollment, participant will have at least one vitrified blastocyst with euploid result by pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT-A) or at least one vitrified blastocyst of fair or better morphologic quality if no PGT-A results are available. Willingness to be randomized to either a modified natural or programmed cycle, with a willingness to administer intramuscular progesterone in oil if assigned to the programmed cycle. Normal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), according to local laboratory standards (or TSH level with a clinically insignificant abnormality per the site director), within one year of study enrollment and repeated at the discretion of the investigator. Use of thyroid medication is permitted. Exclusion criteria To be eligible, subjects must not meet any one of these criteria: Medical contraindication to pregnancy Embryos created using donor oocytes Embryo donation Gestational carrier Reciprocal IVF (one female partner carrying pregnancy, other female partner as source of eggs) Fresh embryos created from frozen oocytes. Patients with frozen embryos created from frozen oocytes can be included. Recurrent implantation failure defined as no clinical pregnancy with ≥ 2 prior consecutive embryo transfers unless patient also had successful live birth between or after the failed embryo transfers Anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome or rheumatologic disease requiring chronic systemic medications Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus History of >1 pregnancy loss in the second or third trimester Uncontrolled hypertension Untreated hydrosalpinx (i.e., hydrosalpinx in situ which has not been ligated or removed) Mullerian uterine anomaly, if not correctable Physician recommendation to perform the embryo transfer outside of the timing specified by the protocol Contraindication to any medication which must be used in preparation for the frozen embryo transfer (i.e., estradiol, progesterone, hCG)
Central Contact Person:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name or Official Title & Degree
David Shade, JD
Phone
410-955-8175
Email
dshade@jhmi.edu
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Valerie Baker, MD
Organizational Affiliation
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
James Segars, MD
Organizational Affiliation
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Stanford University
City
Sunnyvale
State/Province
California
ZIP/Postal Code
94087
Country
United States
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Alma Gonzalez
Phone
408-688-9892
Email
agonlez@stanford.edu
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Ruth Lathi, MD
Facility Name
Yale
City
Orange
State/Province
Connecticut
ZIP/Postal Code
06477
Country
United States
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Alexandra Tavakoli
Phone
203-606-0447
Email
alexandra.tavakoli@yale.edu
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Pal Lubna
Facility Name
Fertility Institute of Hawaii
City
Honolulu
State/Province
Hawaii
ZIP/Postal Code
96814
Country
United States
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Tamara Ohta
Phone
808-369-8355
Email
tamara@armghawaii.com
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
John Frattarelli, MD
Facility Name
Northwestern University
City
Chicago
State/Province
Illinois
ZIP/Postal Code
60611
Country
United States
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Jessica Almgren-Bell
Phone
312-503-5359
Email
jessica.almgrenbell@nm.org
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Emily Jungheim, MD
Facility Name
Johns Hopkins
City
Baltimore
State/Province
Maryland
ZIP/Postal Code
21093
Country
United States
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Karen Lynch
Phone
410-847-3835
Email
kjeunet1@jhmi.edu
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Bhuchitra Singh
Phone
410-614-2000
Email
bsingh10@jhmi.edu
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Val Baker, MD
Facility Name
Shady Grove Fertility
City
Rockville
State/Province
Maryland
ZIP/Postal Code
20850
Country
United States
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Clinical Research Team
Phone
301-545-1423
Email
sgfclinicalresearchteam@sgfertility.com
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Tasha Newsome
Phone
301-545-1289
Email
Tasha.Newsome@sgfertility.com
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Kate Devine, MD
Facility Name
Boston IVF
City
Waltham
State/Province
Massachusetts
ZIP/Postal Code
02451
Country
United States
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Kristin Rooney
Phone
781-434-6470
Email
krooney@bostonivf.com
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Denis Vaughan, MD
Facility Name
University of Rochester
City
Rochester
State/Province
New York
ZIP/Postal Code
14642
Country
United States
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Lynda Kochman
Phone
585-275-0250
Email
lynda_kochman@urmc.rochester.edu
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Wendy Vitek, MD
Facility Name
Atrium Health
City
Charlotte
State/Province
North Carolina
ZIP/Postal Code
28203
Country
United States
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Mary Andrews
Phone
704-953-4832
Email
mary.andrews@atriumhealth.org
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Gretchen Hoelscher
Email
gretchen.hoelscher@atriumhealth.org
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Rebecca Usadi, MD
Facility Name
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
City
Beachwood
State/Province
Ohio
ZIP/Postal Code
44122
Country
United States
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Lynn Borzi
Phone
216-385-3394
Email
BORZIL@ccf.org
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Mindy Christianson, MD
Facility Name
University of Oklahoma
City
Oklahoma City
State/Province
Oklahoma
ZIP/Postal Code
73104
Country
United States
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Michelle Starkey-Scruggs
Phone
405-271-9204
Email
Michelle-StarkeyScruggs@ouhsc.edu
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Karl Hansen, MD
Facility Name
University of Pennsylvania
City
Philadelphia
State/Province
Pennsylvania
ZIP/Postal Code
19104
Country
United States
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Andrea Morley
Phone
215-615-4202
Email
Andrea.Morley@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Clarisa Gracia
Facility Name
CARE Fertility
City
Bedford
State/Province
Texas
ZIP/Postal Code
76022
Country
United States
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Aracely Casillas
Phone
817-540-1157
Email
aracelyc@embryo.net
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Kevin Doody, MD
Facility Name
West Virginia University Center for Reproductive Medicine
City
Morgantown
State/Province
West Virginia
ZIP/Postal Code
26505
Country
United States
Individual Site Status
Recruiting
Facility Contact:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Karen Merryweather
Phone
304-598-3100
Email
merrymank@wvumedicine.org
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Ryan Heitmann, MD

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Citations:
PubMed Identifier
34579768
Citation
Baksh S, Casper A, Christianson MS, Devine K, Doody KJ, Ehrhardt S, Hansen KR, Lathi RB, Timbo F, Usadi R, Vitek W, Shade DM, Segars J, Baker VL; NatPro Study Group. Natural vs. programmed cycles for frozen embryo transfer: study protocol for an investigator-initiated, randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trial. Trials. 2021 Sep 27;22(1):660. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05637-3.
Results Reference
background

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Natural Versus Programmed Frozen Embryo Transfer (NatPro)

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