NCT05698550

The Role of Erzhi Tiangui Formula in Expected POR Women Undergoing IVF-ET

Efficacy of Erzhi Tiangui Granules on Live Birth Rate in Advanced-age Women With Poor Ovarian Response Undergoing in Vitro Fertilization: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 480 (actual)
• Sponsor: Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 35 Years – 43 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to determine whether Erzhi Tiangui Formula can optimize the reproductive outcomes of elderly patients with expected poor ovarian response, and to provide a new approach to traditional Chinese medicine assisted in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

Detailed description

In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been involved with all aspects of assisted reproductive technology (ART), but it remains a long way from being applied to in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Moreover, there is a lack of high-quality clinical research conducted on a large scale. The Erzhi Tiangui formula, which originated from Gui-Cheng Xia, a national TCM master, was composed and established by Professor Fang Lian, who was a national famous TCM practitioner and "Qi Huang scholar," based on her professional experience of more than 40 years. After more than 20 years of basic and clinical investigation, it has demonstrated its effectiveness in optimizing female reproductive function. We therefore adopt Erzhi Tiangui Fang as a pretreatment for IVF-ET in patients with expected poor ovarian response in order to improve their reproductive outcomes. Outpatient clinics at 10 public tertiary hospitals in the country are involved in the study. It is planned to enroll 480 elderly patients with poor ovarian response between January 2023 and December 2025. The Erzhi Tiangui formula group and placebo group will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio through stratified block randomization. Both groups will use a fixed gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. In IVF cycles, Erzhi tiangui formula and placebo will be administered from day 2 or 3 of the previous menstrual cycle to the trigger day. Approximately 5 to 6 weeks will be required for the intervention to be completed. The primary outcome is the number of retrieved oocytes, i.e., the number of oocytes observed under a microscope after oocyte retrieval monitored by transvaginal ultrasound. Secondary outcomes are the ovarian stimulation outcomes, embryonic laboratory outcomes, pregnancy outcomes, obstetric and neonatal outcomes.

Conditions

• Infertility, Female

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Erzhi Tiangui Granule	The Drug Manufacturing Unit of the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine produced the EZTG granule.The EZTG was packaged as 3 g/bag, batch number 01-FZ032-03. The daily dose is equivalent to 15g of Ligustrum lucidum (Nv Zhen Zi),15g of Lotus japonicus (Han Lian Cao),15g of the fruit of Chinese wolfberry(Gou Qi Zi),15g of Cuscuta chinensis(Tu Si Zi), 15g of Radix Rehmanniae Preparata(Shu Di Huang),12g of Angelica sinensis(Dang Gui),12g of Paeonia lactiflora(Bai Shao),12g of Ligusticum wallichii(Chuan Xiong),12g of Rhizoma cyperi(Xiang Fu),and 9g of Radix Glycyrrhizae (Zhi Gan Cao).The placebo granule,which was Preparata mainly composed of dextrin, was made in a similar color and shape to EZTG.Placebo granules were packaged as 3g/bag, with the same package of the EZTG, batch number 01-FZ032-03-1. The EZTG or placebo was orally administered after being dissolved in water, 3g each time, 3 times a day.
DRUG	Erzhi Tiangui Placebo	The placebo consisted mainly of yellow bean powder, starch, carbogen, molasses and could mimic the appearance, color and smell of Erzhi Tiangui granules, but without any active ingredients. Daily doses of placebo were delivered in the same packaging as Erzhi Tiangui granules.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-09-15
• Primary completion: 2025-06-30
• Completion: 2025-12-31
• First posted: 2023-01-26
• Last updated: 2026-04-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: China