Looking for a Blood Epigenetic Signature to Predict Female Infertility
Female InfertilityThe present research project aims to study the DNAm mechanisms underlying the reduction of fertility due to the progressive depletion of oocyte quality. Specifically, our project aims to build an epigenetic clock for MGCs by using outcomes that are certainly related to female fertility. The validation of such findings will be carried out on peripheral blood in order to guarantee its non-invasiveness and allow for any clinical transferability. In order to identify a blood epigenetic signature able to predict female infertility, we planned to explore the problem from different points of view by conducting several studies in different settings.
Prospective, Longitudinal Study on FItness DOping in DenmarK
Anabolic Steroid OverdoseInfertility4 moreThe aim of this prospective longitudinal study is to investigate the risks associated with use of anabolic steroids in fitness circles in Denmark in order to assess the scope of therapeutic need existing as a consequence of use. The objectives are: To assess long-term complications and outcomes related to: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, gonadal disease (women and men) and psychiatric disease using data from Danish registries including addressing central questions such as whether the following characteristics play a role for development of overt disease Characterization of illicit AAS use among men and women Current male reproductive health Current psychological well-being, aggressive tendencies, cognitive function and quality of life Current cardiovascular and metabolic status The participants will undergo: Semi-structured medical interview Physical examinations Questionnaires Blood and urine sampling Dual X-ray Absorptiometry With a subset undergoing further testing, including semen analysis, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and human chorionic gonadotropinm (hCG) stimulation and 82Rubidium positron emission tomography and computer tomography (PET/CT). Register-based follow-up is planned every third year until the 15th year, marking the completion of the trial. The study will include 800 participants with current or former AAS use and 100 participants (80 male; 20 female) as controls with no former or current use of AAS.
PMA-FERTITHEQUE Biocollection
InfertilityInfertility UnexplainedCreation of a patient library in Medically Assisted Procreation to allow the implementation of further research with the following objectives: To identify new relevant biomarkers in patients who will carry a pregnancy to term To better specify or identify new infertility risk factors To identify new relevant biomarkers in patients with reduced ovarian reserve Four consultations are planned with biological et clinical collection.
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.
Food Intake Among Women and Men in Fertility Treatment
InfertilityWorldwide infertility is highly prevalent and lifestyle factors, such as food intake, could have an essential role in the success of a fertility treatment. The literature is not consistent and adequate for recommendations to the increasing number of women and men of reproductive age who ask for lifestyle guidance. Therefore, the aims of the Food & Fertility study will be to investigate the association between food intake and semen quality, pregnancy- and live birth rates in women and men undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment.
The Effects of Acetyl L--Carnitine and Myo/Chiro-Inositol on Improving Ovulation, Pregnancy Rate,...
InfertilityFemale1 moreThe large number of women in their child bearing age is affected by Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) leading to infertility. However it is considered as a multisystem disorder with comorbidities rather than a gynecological and a dermatological problem. Patient mostly have anovulation presented as oligomennorhea or amenorrhea and hyperandrogenism presented as hirsutism along with hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. The presence of multiple cysts in the ovaries is not essential for diagnosis. Many etiological factors are reported but those actually responsible for PCOS in females still need to be explored. However hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance being the key triggering condition apart from cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and obesity. Nearly 100 million women are effected with this disease worldwide. World Health Organization (WHO) has considered Infertilty as public health problem. it was the objective of UN conference 2015 to provide access and quality reproductive health services to all individuals. About 50 to 80% women having PCOS are obese. Researchers reported the obesity role in occurrence of PCOS and its Infertilty relation . Poly cystic ovary syndrome is not a simple pathophysiologic process for which one treatment address all manifestation. Treatment should target specific manifestations and individualized patient goals. When choosing a treatment regimen, physicians must take into account comorbidities and the patient's desire for pregnancy. First-line agents for ovulation induction and treatment of infertility in patients with PCOS include metformin and clomiphene alone or in combination. It has been approved as category "A "to regulate ovulation and improves pregnancy rates in women with PCOS . Mostly it result in complication like multiple follicle recruitment rate, multiple pregnancy and thining of endometrial wall leading to early abortion and endometrial cancers.The use of naturally occurring compounds like myoinositol, D-chiro- inositol and L- carnitine which are already part of human body are expected to produce significant results without any side effects . The proposed study will provide an alternative to current treatments available for infertility due to PCOS. The expected project execution time is 1 years. Thus, the present project will discover new insights about treatment of infertilty and thus generate new knowledge which will help Academia, scientists and health care professionals. Moreover, the proposed project involves, "the formulation of new drugs" which can be patent and may benefit Pharmaceutical industry of Pakistan as well. Results of the study will be disseminated on different forums including to policy makers , Pharmaceutical, national and international agencies. The result will be published in journal both national and international with good impact factors. The outcome of the project will be used as publication in high impact international journals, filling of patents and will also be presented in national and international forums.
Ibuprofen Versus Ketorolac for Pain Relief During Hysterosalpingogram
InfertilityFemaleHysterosalpingogram (HSG) testing is a vital part of the workup for infertility patients. It is often noted to be biggest pain that patients undergo during the workup. Several studies have attempted to find a therapy that reduces pain, with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as oral ibuprofen the current mainstay. Our study attempts to determine which of the following NSAIDS is best at reducing pain associated with the HSG procedure: oral ibuprofen versus oral ketorolac .
Fertility Preservation With Ovarian Tissue Freezing
CancerHematologic Disorder2 moreThe purpose of this study is to obtain ovarian tissue from female patients undergoing gonadotoxic treatments or gonadal ablating surgery, and that in consequence may see their future fertility impaired. Participants will be offered to preserve (freeze) and use ovarian tissue for the purpose of conceiving in the future. Although, 86 live births have been reported with ovarian tissue cryo-preservation and grafting, the procedure is still considered experimental. This research, will help us to learn and validate how to perform ovarian tissue cryo-preservation and thawing in the fertility preservation context.
The Effect of a Mindset Management Approach on Stress Levels in Women With Infertility
StressInfertility1 moreThe goal of this clinical trial is to test the effect of a mindset management intervention on stress levels in women with infertility. The main question it aims to answer is: Can the Organic Conceptions approach decrease stress levels in women with infertility? Participants in both groups will be asked to complete three surveys at three time points. The intervention group will complete the Organic Conceptions program, while the control group will not complete an intervention. Researchers will compare the intervention group and control group to see if the Organic Conceptions mindset management program decreases stress levels in women with infertility.
A Novel Integrative Non-invasive Embryo Selection Approach for in Vitro Fertilization Based on Artificial...
Reproductive IssuesSubfertility1 moreDuring assisted reproductive technology treatment, embryo selection is an important process that may affect the clinical pregnancy rate. Many assisted reproductive technology units over the world have tried different approaches to increase the clinical pregnancy rate. Conventionally, the morphology of the embryo is assessed by the embryologist with naked eyes only. Nowadays, artificial intelligence (AI) has been used to assist in morphological assessment of the embryo. Our pilot study showed that the AI-enhanced morphokinetic (MK) analysis increased the accuracy in embryo selection by ~9%, while the detection rate for abnormal chromosomes in embryo has also been increased by Raman spectroscopy (RS) analysis. The combined MK-RS analysis will be able to complete embryo assessment within 5-6 days after fertilization. This method needs shorter time and is at lower cost when compared to invasive preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A). In this study, we have combined the following non-invasive techniques to assist in embryo screening. Using time-lapse imaging (i.e. images of embryo being taken every 10 minutes inside the incubator) with AI)-enhanced MK analysis to assess the entire morphological changes of the embryo. As the embryo releases metabolites during its growth, the spent culture medium will be collected after culture of the embryo and then be used for RS analysis, which is a kind of metabolomics-based non-invasive PGT-A, for screening chromosomal abnormalities of the embryo. This study will include two phases. In Phase I, it is a retrospective part. We will collect data to train the convolutional neural network (CNN)-enhanced MK with RS method on embryo selection, leading to the integrated approach (MK-RS). In Phase II, it is a randomized controlled trial and participants will be randomised into 2 groups. For the experimental group, embryo selection will be based on the MK-RS method, whereas embryo selection for the control group will rely on the traditional embryo assessment results alone. Then we will assess the clinical pregnancy rate and evaluate the efficacy of our approach finally. Patients who receive in vitro fertilisation (IVF)/ intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment from The Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Unit of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital will be recruited.