Active clinical trials for "Infertility"

Frozen embryo transfer (FET) has been increasing important in IVF. Progesterone is essential for the endometrial secretory transformation, establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. In FET, as there is neither corpus luteum nor the support of hCG, the role of progesterone is even more important to ensure a sufficient luteal phase support. Vaginal progesterone has been the most common preparation for luteal support in fresh embryo transfer during IVF because of their ease of use and comparable effectiveness compared to intramuscular progesterone. Recently, there was evidence of the considerable variation in uptake, absorption and metabolism of intra-vaginal micronized progesterone. Dydrogesterone alone has described to have similar effectiveness, safety and tolerability prolfiles for luteal phase support compared to vaginal progesterone in luteal phase support for fresh embryo transfer. This prospective study compares the effectiveness of micronized progesterone versus micronized progesterone plus dydrogesterone for luteal phase support in FET.

The cause of infertility can be due to a female factor or a male factor. In case of a male factor, it is often due to poor semen quality. However, the cause of poor quality is often unknown. In previous research, infertility problems in men were related to chemical processes in metabolism causing the formation of free radicals. Free radicals are physiological by-products of our body mechanisms. Free radicals are very reactive and can therefore react with a lot of molecules of cells within our body and cause damage. A balance between free radicals, which are also needed for physiological processes in the body, and antioxidants, which defuses the reactive free radicals, is most desirable. However, as stated in literature, there are a lot of factors that can influence extra free radical production, which causes overloading of the system, resulting in damage on cellular level. Free radicals in semen plasma and on the sperm cell could play a role in male infertility. Nonetheless, free radicals are not used as diagnostic markers due to the lack of detection systems, as free radicals are very short-lived. This study aims to introduce a new technique, called diamond magnetometry, to measure free radicals directly on the sperm cell and in serum. Diamond magnetometry involves very small diamond particles as magnetic sensors that engage a reaction with the free radicals on the sperm cell, causing signals that can be measured. To compare local free radical production with systemic free radical production, other diagnostic biomarkers are also measured in serum. It is hypothesized that the composition of seminal microbiome could influence the free radical concentration. Therefore, this study also aims to explore the microbiota composition and see if this has an influence in semen quality and free radical production. At last, this study also want to correlate standard semen parameters (defined by the World Health Organisation), lifestyle factors and food intake, to detect a role for lifestyle in the production of free radicals.

The widespread availability of efficient contraception as well as women's increased education has led to childbearing postponement. Combined with the increased recognition of the concept of "ovarian aging", this has opened the Pandora´s box of EOC, which is currently considered a safe and cost-efficient approach among assisted reproduction techniques. Previous studies have shown that two main factors determine the CLBR after EOC: 1) patient's age at the time of oocyte banking, and 2) the number of oocytes retrieved. Therefore, measures aiming at increasing the oocyte yield, specially the number of mature oocytes retrieved, will maximize the success of this technique. In the last few years, the dual trigger for final oocyte maturation has emerged has an approach that seems to improve both oocyte yield and quality when compared to the hCG trigger alone. Nowadays, the standard of care in EOC patients is final oocyte maturation with a single bolus of GnRH-a. Understanding the impact of the dual trigger on the number of MII oocytes retrieved in patients undergoing EOC will improve the treatment protocols and allow for a better patient counselling.

Spermotrend is a natural based product manufactured by Catalysis Laboratories. Its composition contains different essential elements for spermatogenesis: selenium, zinc and fructose. In addition, it contains L-arginine, natural precursor of nitric oxide that favors vasodilation, and pygeum africanum extract with antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antiandrogenic and antiproliferative action. Its main action resides in the control of oxidative damage to the tissues of the male reproductive system, as well as the control of correct spermatogenesis. Given that sperm quality can be altered by oxidative stress and that male infertility affects more and more people, the prevention and management of this deterioration becomes increasingly important. Therefore, to evaluate Spermotrend as a new therapy for male infertility, the investigators are going to study the safety and efficacy of this treatment in this clinical trial. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS The treatment with Spermotrend improves the parameters of the spermatogenesis. GENERAL OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness and the safety level of the natural Spermotrend product in the treatment of male infertility. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES Evaluate the increase in sperm motility and concentration. Identify the improvement in the seminal fluid volume. Identify the positive changes in the sperm morphology. Determine how to maintain the semen analysis in a normal range. Describe the adverse effects. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES Identify the improvement in urinary symptoms related with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Identify the improvement in varicocele.

Chronic endometritis is an inflammatory condition of the endometrium. This inflammation can negatively affect fertility and pregnancy. The pathology is frequently (+-10%) observed in women with fertility problems. Today, diagnosis of chronic endometritis is not evident, since no well-validated classification scales are available. In the UZ Brussel the pathology department applies its own in-house scoring system, based on the presence and position of plasma cells within the histological images. Despite limited research so far, it recently became clear that the endometrium is colonized by micro-organisms (the microbiome). However, it is still unclear what role these microorganisms play in chronic endometritis and fertility problems. Chronic endometritis is often diagnosed in the context of fertility problems, and the patient is treated 'blindly' with broad-spectrum antibiotics such as doxycycline. Broad-spectrum antibiotics unnecessarily eradicate many microorganisms in our body, including the ones that positively influence implantation. The exact cause of chronic endometritis is unknown, so treatment remains empirical. The research and knowledge in the endometrial microbiome is constantly expanding, mainly due to the rise of research into the links between pathologies and human microbiota. It is becoming increasingly clear that the composition of the microbiome can play a vital role in health and disease. Regarding the influence of the endometrial microbiome on different pathologies, such as chronic endometritis and implantation failure or miscarriage, there is still no consensus. Despite multiple studies on the endometrial microbiome, we are not yet able to define a normal or healthy endometrial microbiome. In this project, we want to gain insight into the microorganisms that are present in the female reproductive tract based on various techniques. The analyses will performed on an endometrial biopsy and a vaginal swab. The biopsy is routinely taken at Brussels IVF for the detection of plasma cells in the anatomopathology lab for the diagnosis of chronic endometritis. In the microbiology lab we will investigate which microorganisms are present in the female reproductive tract with and without the histological diagnosis of chronic endometritis. This will be done based on the state-of-the-art analytical techniques metagenomics (sequencing) and culturomics (culture).

Development of multiple follicles and pregnancy in ovulatory women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation as part of an assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycle.

This study is a preliminary evaluation of the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of elderly infertile women.

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

The purpose of this pilot study is to test the study protocol for an RCT comparing IVF outcomes between day 3 and day 5 embryo transfer in patients with five or fewer embryos in a fresh embryo transfer in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle. Information derived from this RCTwould allow us to maximize the chances of success for these patients undergoing IVF.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of CAPA-IVM versus standard IVM in women with polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) .