Active clinical trials for "Infertility"

Women with low ovarian reserve typically respond less well to the drugs used to stimulate the ovary during IVF treatment and produce fewer eggs and, as a result, are less likely to fall pregnant either naturally or after fertility treatment. The ideal stimulation regimen for poor responders is currently unknown. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been reported to improve pregnancy chances for poor responders, and is now utilized by approximately one third of all IVF centers world-wide. However, the current clinical evidence for DHEA on improvement of ovarian response and IVF outcome is insufficient. The validity of the results of the former studies, especially the varied inclusion criteria used to specify poor responders, is a subject of debate. Recently a uniform definition on poor ovarian response, the Bologna criteria, has been proposed by the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology(ESHRE). However, no studies have been performed study to evaluate the potential effects of DHEA supplementation according to these standards. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of DHEA supplementation on IVF outcome of poor ovarian responders that fulfill the Bologna criteria.

This is a human factors usability study designed to validated usability by obtaining feedback in a home use environment regarding ease of use of the Focus Touch™ Conception System Conceptacle (when used to collect semen) and the instructions for use. The investigators will collect data to demonstrate that the usability requirements of the conception system as collection device, as determined by Usability Specification: Focus Touch Conception System, ER-000001 have been met. The ability of the device to be used during sexual intercourse without discomfort or injury to the female participant's vaginal/cervical tissues shall also be taken into account. Participating couples will be asked to use the Focus Touch™ Conception System Conceptacle (in condom form), using the Instructions For Use, to collect semen during sexual intercourse in a home use environment. This study will involve sexual intercourse between monogamous, heterosexual couples who are trying to conceive or are on a non-vaginal birth control with which they do not normally use condoms. Participants will be asked to complete the study and the questionnaire within 3 days of receiving the study packet. Contact information shall be collected, but participants will only be contacted if they fail to return the questionnaire within the requested timeframe.

Twenty eight infertile women undergoing ultrasonographic endometrial assessment in the late follicle phase, fourteen of them with homogeneous echo endometrium (group 1) and other fourteen with trilaminar endometrium (group 2), were included from our Department. The endometrial tissues were collected and Four biomarkers for endometrial receptivity and ultrastructure were assessed before and 6-7 days after ovulation.

Implantation failure of the embryo might be the result from the environment in the uterus. Proteins (cytokines) are screted by the endometrium which can result in a pro or anti inflammatory environment. The aim of this study is to identify pre-implantation endometrial and embryo cytokine expression profiles associated with successful and unsuccessful embryo implantation in assisted reproduction cycles.

We will investigate maternal and embryonic factors in women with recurrent implantation failure, undergoing IVF/ ICSI treatment. Women who have not achieved a pregnancy after three embryo transfer procedures will undergo an endometrial biopsy during the window of implantation in a natural cycle. During the next treatment cycle we will aspirate endometrial secretion and perform a doppler ultrasound investigation of the a. uterina. Moreover, we will investigate the cytokine expression from the transferred embryo from the culture medium.

This project is examining the reproductive effects of exposure to certain compounds that are suspected to act on the endocrine system, e.g. they may act like or interfere with hormones such as estrogen. The study is being conducted among Laotian women, as it is suspected that they may have higher exposures to the compounds of interest (pesticides and PCBs) from their homeland and from consumption of fish caught in the San Francisco Bay. Fifty Laotian immigrants were recruited by community workers to collect urine daily during 3 menstrual cycles for measurement of steroid hormones (estrogen and progesterone). Additionally, they provided a blood sample to measure exposure levels, and completed 2 interviews in their native language. These measured levels, as well as the self-reported data on a number of factors including fish consumption, will be examined for possible effects on hormone levels and menstrual function.

Investigators will be comparing artificial (HRT) frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles to correctly conducted spontaneous natural cycles after the transfer of a chromosomally normal embryo.

This study was designed to allow inpatient and outpatient evaluation of women with a variety of reproductive and endocrine-related disorders for purposes of research and physician education. The evaluations may include ultrasound examinations, blood, saliva, and/or urine samples. In some cases, specific laboratory or X-ray studies will be performed to confirm the diagnosis or assist in the treatment of the patient. These additional tests will be conducted within the guidelines of current gynecologic practice. In some cases, the patient will receive medical or surgical treatment for their disorder. The purpose of this study is to provide an opportunity for physicians to evaluate women with medical conditions of reproduction. These evaluations and treatments will support clinical training and research for the accredited training program in reproductive endocrinology at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).<TAB>

The purpose of this study is to identify a systemic immunological profile specific to patients with recurrent implantation failures (RIF) or miscarriages (RM) through blood immunophenotyping on the day of ovulation. This study also aims to determine whether the intrauterine administration of 5 million peripheral blood monocluear cells increases implantation and pregnancy rates in patients with RIF and decreases the risk of miscarriages in patients with RM, compared to what has already been published in the scientific literature

Infertility-the inability to conceive despite one year of properly timed unprotected intercourse-is a common problem. Of all types of male factor infertility, non-obstructive azoospermia may be the most difficult for couples. Importantly, patients with non-obstructive azoospermia are asked to make difficult decisions in terms of reproductive choice; surgical attempts at identifying sperm (microdissection testicular sperm extraction) are often offered to these patients without a guarantee of being able to identify sperm. New methodologies in terms of evaluation of azoospermic males PRIOR to the couple embarking upon IVF are needed urgently. The other potential benefit of non-invasive determination of testis function and spermatogenesis would be the potential targeting of sperm extraction procedures. We hypothesize that quantitative MRI employing advanced functional metrics will be sensitive to functional and metabolic differences between subsets of azoospermic cases and will improve upon current characterization of patients with this condition. Moreover, it is believed that these techniques will provide complementary information, such that they may be combined in a synergistic fashion for targeted extraction methodologies.