NCT01668056

Synchronization of Ovarian Stimulation for in Vitro Fertilization With Follicular Wave Emergence

The Role of Controlling Follicular Wave Emergence to Synchronize Ovarian Stimulation for in Vitro Fertilization

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Sao Paulo General Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 35 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Ovarian stimulation is an important phase of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. The harvest of a larger number of viable eggs per cycle compensate eventual laboratory difficulties and allow for the selection of embryos with higher implantation potential. In the current protocols, based on the most prevailing theory of ovarian follicular development, stimulation drugs are usually started on the second or third day after the beginning of menses. The follicular phase of the menstrual cycle is believed to be the only favorable moment for follicular development. In the early 2000's a new model of human ovarian follicular development (follicular waves) has been proposed based on frequent transvaginal ultrasound observations between two ovulations. It has been shown that ovarian antral follicles develop in synchronous groups, two to three times in a cycle. In fact the follicular wave phenomenon has been initially described in the 80's on domestic animals, like the mare and the cow. Moreover, studies in these animals have shown that synchronizing the start of the ovarian stimulation drugs with the beginning of a follicular wave yields better results for assisted reproductive treatments. Consequently in ovarian stimulation protocols for animal assisted reproduction it is important to control the initiation of a follicular wave. Current protocols of ovarian stimulation for IVF in women do not consider the start of a follicular wave to begin drug administration. Therefore the purpose of this study is to evaluate two methods to control the emergence of a follicular wave (ovulation induction and dominant follicle aspiration) and to investigate the effects of synchronizing ovarian stimulation for IVF with follicular wave emergence in women compared to one of the current stimulation protocols (flexible GnRH protocol).

Conditions

• Infertility

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Ovulation induction with choriogonadotropin alfa	Administration of 250 micrograms of choriogonadotropin alfa subcutaneously when the dominant follicle of a natural menstrual cycle reaches 16mm or more of mean diameter. Verify if this intervention is able to induce follicular wave emergence and synchronize the start of the flexible GnRH antagonist protocol of ovarian stimulation with the start of a follicular wave.
PROCEDURE	Aspiration of the dominant follicle	Aspiration of all follicles greater than 10mm in mean diameter when the dominant follicle of a natural menstrual cycle reaches 16mm or more of mean diameter. Aspiration will be guided by transvaginal ultrasound. Verify if this intervention is able to induce follicular wave emergence and synchronize the start of the flexible GnRH antagonist protocol of ovarian stimulation with the start of a follicular wave.
OTHER	Control	Conventional flexible GnRH antagonist protocol of ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization, with gonadotropin star at the third day of a natural menstrual cycle.

Timeline

• Start date: 2012-01-01
• Primary completion: 2014-12-01
• Completion: 2014-12-01
• First posted: 2012-08-17
• Last updated: 2013-09-10

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Brazil