Fertility and the Microbiome
SubfertilityAsthenozoospermiaWith this study, the investigators want to investigate the microbiome and human papilloma virus (HPV) status of couples with subfertility. The investigators want to gain information about association of female and male microbiome and its impact on fertility. HPV prevalence is high, and its impact on fertility has not been studied intensively. The investigators want to find out whether there is an association between HPV status and subfertility, vaginal and seminal microbiome and HPV status and the prevalence among our subfertile couples. As part of this study, the investigators will perform a randomized placebo controlled double blind pilot study to investigate the association between altered sperm quality (impaired motility and elevated DNA fragmentation index), the seminal microbiome and whether intake of probiotics alters these parameters.
Uterine Junctional Zone and Its Relation to Adverse Obstetrical Outcomes in Assisted Reproductive...
InfertilityFemaleThe junctional zone (JZ) is an internal layer of the myometrium, with unique characteristics that allow its visualization as a hypoechogenic structure in three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound. While there is a growing realization that the origins of major obstetrical complications associated with defective deep placentation, such as pre-term labour, fetal growth restriction and pre-eclampsia, may lie in the very early pregnancy events, the underlying mechanisms are not understood.
What To-be-discard Biomaterials From ART Cycles Can Tell us About the Treatment Cycle Outcome?
IVFInfertilityVarious to-be-discard material from IVF treatment cycle will be collect and examined, aiming to identify potential reasons of successful outcome or cycle failure.
Predictors of Pregnancy Rate in Assisted Reproductive Technology According to Actual Guidelines...
InfertilityGoals: To explore the association of probability of pregnancy with certain prognostic factors in patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology in Russian population according to international and national guidelines.
Junctional Zone and Its Relation to Outcomes in Assisted Reproductive Technology
InfertilityFemaleThe junctional zone (JZ) is an internal layer of the myometrium, with unique characteristics that allow its visualization as a hypoechogenic structure in three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound. Although traditionally evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging, 3D reconstruction offers an opportunity for reliable and easily accessible assessment. The only study that evaluated the thickness of the JZ in 3D ultrasound in the context of assisted reproductive technology (ART) found that the smaller the thickness of the JZ, the greater the rate of embryonic implantation. This project aims to evaluate the relationship between the characteristics of the ZJ in 3D ultrasound, and the clinical outcomes of ART treatments, namely in vitro fertilization cycles, intracytoplasmic sperm injection and frozen embryo transfer (FET). Additionally, the intra and inter-observer variability of the characteristics of the JZ will be determined. In a prospective and observational study with the inclusion of 200 cases, a 3D ultrasound will be performed on the day on which the final oocyte maturation is triggered or, on FET, on the day prior to the administration of progesterone. The images will be evaluated independently by two observers. The principal investigator will evaluate the images in two stages. After the quality of visualization of the JZ is classified, its thickness will be measured and described as regular, irregular or interrupted. The volume of the ZJ will be obtained by subtracting the endometrial volume from the volume of the junctional zone and the endometrium. These characteristics will be related to the clinical outcomes of each cycle: clinical pregnancy rate and abortion rate.
Overture Metabolomics Non-Selection Study
InfertilityIn this study, study investigators will collect embryo culture media on day 5 of vitro fertilization (IVF) culture, prior to vitrification and embryo transfer for testing via Metabolomic screening. Metabolomics is a new, non-invasive method of embryo selection which involves testing discarded embryo culture media for analytes secreted by the developing embryo. These analytes can be used to determine the implantation potential, and ploidy, of the embryo. This study will take place at multiple locations in the United States and Spain.
Endometrial Basis for Infertility in Women With Recurrent Implantation Failure and Pregnancy Loss...
Normal Endometrial PhysiologyBackground: Pregnancy loss is the most common complication of pregnancy. It occurs in roughly one-half of natural conceptions. It most frequently occurs in the first 2 to 3 weeks of pregnancy. Researchers want to look at the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium, to see what role it plays in implantation and miscarriage. Objective: To gain a better understanding of how normal and abnormal endometrium works. Eligibility: Healthy, fertile women ages 18-42 who have had one prior child. Design: Participants will have 3 study visits. At visit 1, participants will have a medical history. They will have a radiologic/imaging review if needed. They will be taught how to monitor their urine luteinizing hormone (LH) at home with an ovulation predictor kit. They will have their second study visit 9 days after their LH surge. At visit 2, participants will take a urine pregnancy test. They will have a physical exam and have blood drawn. They will have a uterine lavage and endometrial biopsy. For this, a speculum will be placed into the vagina. A soft catheter will be inserted through the cervical canal into the uterus. Saline will be added into the uterus and then recovered after 30 seconds. A tissue sample will be taken. About 46 days later, participants will start another round of LH monitoring. They will have a third study visit 9 days after their LH surge. At visit 3, they will repeat the tests from visit 2. Some samples will be used for genetic tests. Participation will last for 3 menstrual cycles. ...
Characterizing Follicles From Auto-transplanted Ovarian Tissue
InfertilityFemaleThe aim of the project is to characterize the hormonal conditions in egg follicles in women who, prior to fertility treatment, have had autotransplanted frozen ovarian tissue for the purpose of fertility preservation.
Development of a Screening Tool for Difficult Embryo Transfers
InfertilityThis study aims to investigate the accuracy of a proposed screening tool in identifying difficult embryo transfers (ETs) without doing a mock ET.
The Association of Gut Microbiota and Spermatogenic Dysfunction
InfertilityMale4 moreThis is a multicenter, case-control study that aims to investigate the relationship between microbiota and sperm quality via stool, blood, and urine microbiome, metabolomics, and collected clinical metadata. The results of the spermatogenic dysfunction, including aspermia, oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, and teratozoospermia, will be compared to normal basic semen analysis utilizing the World Health Organization (WHO) semen analysis procedure 5th edition.