Active clinical trials for "Infertility"

One of the most widely used procedures in reproductive medicine technologies is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). During the IVF procedure, there are sometimes unused embryos that are frozen to be used at later times. If these embryos are thawed and transferred back to the mother, proper development of the uterine lining plays an important role in outcome of pregnancy. Electro-acupuncture (EA), a technique where electrical current is applied to the needle to stimulate an acupoint, has been shown to increase uterine blood flow, increasing the likelihood of developing a more ideal endometrial lining. This randomized study aims to evaluate the impact of EA on endometrium undergoing medicated frozen embryo transfer cycle preparation. The treatment group will receive four acupuncture treatments during the medicated uterine preparation. Endometrial thickness will be compared to a group that does not receive acupuncture.

The investigators propose to perform a clinical randomized trial to evaluate the effect of single embryo (blastocyst) transfer (SET) with array CGH for the evaluation of the complete chromosome complement of the blastocyst in comparison to standard ART methods in which one or more embryo are replaced. Patients will be randomized into two groups: Control group: patients will have up to two embryos replaced on day 5 based on morphological and developmental characteristics, and the other embryos reaching blastocyst stage will be vitrified. If patients in the control group do not have a pregnancy to term from that fresh cycle, they will be offered free PGD either for the frozen embryos of that cycle or for the next cycle (up to the center and patient). Data from that PGD is not part of the study. Test group: patients will have grade A,B or C blastocysts hatched on day 5, biopsied on day 5, analyzed by array CGH, and a single euploid embryo transferred on day 6. Any morulas developing to grade A,B or C blastocyst on day-6 will be also analyzed but vitrified for use in a future cycle.

In this study the investigators want to investigate if the pregnancy rate in conjunction with fertility treatment increases with concomitant use of laser therapy.

This is a two-arm parallel group randomized controlled trial at the Department of Reproductive Medicine at Ghent University Hospital. Women >=18 and <37 years of age undergoing their first or second IVF/ICSI treatment, with at least 2 good quality blastocysts remaining after fresh embryo transfer will be randomized to either transfer of a cryopreserved blastocyst selected based on morphology (standard treatment arm) or transfer of a cryopreserved blastocyst selected based on PGS and morphology (intervention treatment arm).

The primary aim of this study is to find out if ovulation triggered with hCG provides any additional benefit in comparison to spontaneous LH surge measured with the home test when transferring frozen-thawed embryo in a naturally stimulated cycle.

A total of 60 men (40 with a history of infertility and treatment with assisted reproduction and 20 infertile controls achieving conception naturally) will be asked to provide at least one semen sample each for conventional semen analysis including measurement of DNA-fragmentation and semen preparation with swim-up. The prepared semen sample will then analyzed by comprehensive microscopy analyses aiming at identifying distinct subpopulations of spermatozoa based on chromatin density and composition, mitochondrial and acrosome function and epigenetic markers. In addition, spermatozoa samples of selected individuals will be subjected to comprehensive analyses of the chromatin and RNA expression status using epigenomic approaches.

Transabdominal ultrasound guidance is the golden standard for embryo transfers. Transvaginal ultrasound guidance was proposed recently to provide better visualization and reduce patient discomfort as embryo transfer can be performed with an empty bladder in this case. The purpose of this study is to determine whether there are any differences between transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasound-guided embryo transfer in terms of ease of use, patient satisfaction, and treatment outcome.

Improvements in In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) outcomes have largely been due to the generation of excess embryos allowing for multiple embryo transfer. Unfortunately this has also increased the risk of multiple pregnancy with associated maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. The investigators believe that the concentration of nitric oxide metabolites measured in the culture medium from the first day of culture can identify the best quality embryos allowing us to transfer a limited number of embryos without compromising the optimum chance for pregnancy.

Endometrial sampling improves the pregnancy rates in superovulation-IUI cycles

Study Hypothesis: There is a difference in pregnancy rates between intrauterine insemination (IUI) in cycles performed with cervical occlusion by a balloon catheter designed for sonohysterograms as compared to those performed with a standard inseminator. The investigators will compare pregnancy rates in patients undergoing routine IUI either with balloon occlusion or with standard insemination. The patients will receive the standard clinical care per the investigators' office guidelines, except they will be randomized to insemination with either of two catheters.