Clinical Trial to Assess the Effect of Testosterone in Patients With Poor Ovarian Response (TESTOPRIM)

NCT ID: NCT03378713

Last Updated: 2019-08-13

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE3

Total Enrollment

63 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2017-08-07

Study Completion Date

2019-02-11

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Trial to determine the absolute and relative efficacy of two follicular preparation regimens with transdermal testosterone during the cycle (s) prior to the initiation of COS (controlled ovarian stimulation) in patients diagnosed with POR (poor ovarian response) for the increase in the number of mature oocytes recovered.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

POR is a challenge for reproductive medicine because of its impact on treatment outcomes and the lack of sufficiently proven therapeutic tools. According to recent publications based on retrospective studies of large registries, there is a correlation between the number of oocytes and LBR (live birth rate), so the investigators consider that variable mature oocytes are a reasonable compromise and a solid substitute for other outcome variables such as LBR or CPR (clinical pregnancy rate).

Regarding the duration of treatment, the investigators decided to include two groups of testosterone treatment (compared to the control group) with different duration. One will explore the role of testosterone in prolonged treatments (two full menstrual cycles). The other will test the pattern most commonly used in most studies, that is, testosterone in luteal phase of the previous cycle (about 10 days in short protocol with GnRH antagonist). In this way the investigators will establish an absolute comparison with the control group and relative between both treatment groups (long testosterone vs. short testosterone) to determine if / which of the two regimen (the two, only one or none) improves the number of mature oocytes recovered.

The product under investigation is testosterone gel, transdermal administration, 50 mg / single dose (Testim®, Ferring, Madrid, Spain). Regarding the dose, the investigators decided to keep the most used in the rest of studies (12.5 mg / day).

This study population will include only patients diagnosed with POR based on ESHRE Bologna criteria, in order to homogenize the population and allow comparisons with other studies in the future.

Regarding the dose, the investigators decided to keep the most used in the rest of studies (12.5 mg/day) which so far has been the only one proven effective. It is clearly possible that lower and more physiological doses are equally effective, but this yet has to be proven in well-designed studies. The gel is self-administered by the patients who are adequately instructed by a research nurse.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Infertility, Female

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Investigators

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

GROUP 1: Long testosterone

Application of testosterone in transdermal gel during the 2 cycles prior to initiation of controlled ovarian stimulation and until the onset of second menstruation (approximately 56 days). The COS begins the day after the last testosterone application.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

GROUP 1: Long testosterone

Intervention Type DRUG

Application of testosterone in transdermal gel during the 2 cycles prior to initiation of controlled ovarian stimulation and until the onset of second menstruation (approximately 56 days). The COS begins the day after the last testosterone application

GROUP 2: Short testosterone

Application of testosterone in transdermal gel begins on day 21 of menstrual cycle, from the luteal phase of the cycle prior to initiation of controlled ovarian stimulation and until menstruation (approximately 10 days). The COS begins the day after the last testosterone application.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

GROUP 2: Short testosterone

Intervention Type DRUG

Application of testosterone in transdermal gel begins on day 21 of menstrual cycle, from the luteal phase of the cycle prior to initiation of controlled ovarian stimulation and until menstruation (approximately 10 days). The COS begins the day after the last testosterone application.

GROUP 3: Control

The COS starts directly on the second day of the cycle without prior medication.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

GROUP 3: Control

Intervention Type DRUG

The COS starts directly on the second day of the cycle without prior medication.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

GROUP 1: Long testosterone

Application of testosterone in transdermal gel during the 2 cycles prior to initiation of controlled ovarian stimulation and until the onset of second menstruation (approximately 56 days). The COS begins the day after the last testosterone application

Intervention Type DRUG

GROUP 2: Short testosterone

Application of testosterone in transdermal gel begins on day 21 of menstrual cycle, from the luteal phase of the cycle prior to initiation of controlled ovarian stimulation and until menstruation (approximately 10 days). The COS begins the day after the last testosterone application.

Intervention Type DRUG

GROUP 3: Control

The COS starts directly on the second day of the cycle without prior medication.

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Signed Informed consent prior to the completion of any procedure related to the clinical trial.
* Female older than 18 years old at the time of randomization.
* Prior diagnosis of poor ovarian response (POR) according to ESHRE Bologna criteria. Patients must meet at least 2 of the following:

* Advanced maternal age (40 years or more) or any other risk factor for POR.
* A previous POR (3 oocytes or less) with a conventional ovarian stimulation protocol.
* Abnormal ovarian reserve test (RFA \<5-7 or AMH 3.3-7.9 pmol / l).

Exclusion Criteria

* Presence of uterine malformations, corrected or not.
* Presence of uterine pathology defined as submucous myomas or endometrial polyps, documented by transvaginal ultrasound.
* Couples with severe male factor defined as REM \<1 or azoospermia.
* Hydrosalpinx unilateral or bilateral uncorrected.
* Perimenopausal patients with irregular menstrual cycles.
* Concurrent untreated endocrine disorders.
* Patients who have participated in a clinical trial in a period of less than one month.
* Known allergy to the drug.
* Patients who have received androgen treatment within 3 months prior to inclusion in the study.
* BMI\> 35 kg / m2
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria La Fe

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Jessica Subirá

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe, Valencia, Spain

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe

Valencia, , Spain

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

Spain

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Tarlatzis BC, Zepiridis L, Grimbizis G, Bontis J. Clinical management of low ovarian response to stimulation for IVF: a systematic review. Hum Reprod Update. 2003 Jan-Feb;9(1):61-76. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmg007.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12638782 (View on PubMed)

Gorgy A, Naumann N, Bates S, Craft IL. Assisted conception following poor ovarian response to gonadotrophin stimulation. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1997 Dec;104(12):1420-1. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb11020.x. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9422028 (View on PubMed)

Ferraretti AP, La Marca A, Fauser BC, Tarlatzis B, Nargund G, Gianaroli L; ESHRE working group on Poor Ovarian Response Definition. ESHRE consensus on the definition of 'poor response' to ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization: the Bologna criteria. Hum Reprod. 2011 Jul;26(7):1616-24. doi: 10.1093/humrep/der092. Epub 2011 Apr 19.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21505041 (View on PubMed)

Kyrou D, Kolibianakis EM, Venetis CA, Papanikolaou EG, Bontis J, Tarlatzis BC. How to improve the probability of pregnancy in poor responders undergoing in vitro fertilization: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Fertil Steril. 2009 Mar;91(3):749-66. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.12.077. Epub 2008 Jul 21.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18639875 (View on PubMed)

Pandian Z, McTavish AR, Aucott L, Hamilton MP, Bhattacharya S. Interventions for 'poor responders' to controlled ovarian hyper stimulation (COH) in in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Jan 20;(1):CD004379. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004379.pub3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20091563 (View on PubMed)

Jeve YB, Bhandari HM. Effective treatment protocol for poor ovarian response: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Hum Reprod Sci. 2016 Apr-Jun;9(2):70-81. doi: 10.4103/0974-1208.183515.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27382230 (View on PubMed)

Bastu E, Buyru F, Ozsurmeli M, Demiral I, Dogan M, Yeh J. A randomized, single-blind, prospective trial comparing three different gonadotropin doses with or without addition of letrozole during ovulation stimulation in patients with poor ovarian response. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2016 Aug;203:30-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2016.05.027. Epub 2016 May 24.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27236602 (View on PubMed)

Ertzeid G, Storeng R. The impact of ovarian stimulation on implantation and fetal development in mice. Hum Reprod. 2001 Feb;16(2):221-5. doi: 10.1093/humrep/16.2.221.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11157810 (View on PubMed)

Van der Auwera I, D'Hooghe T. Superovulation of female mice delays embryonic and fetal development. Hum Reprod. 2001 Jun;16(6):1237-43. doi: 10.1093/humrep/16.6.1237.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11387298 (View on PubMed)

Baker VL, Brown MB, Luke B, Smith GW, Ireland JJ. Gonadotropin dose is negatively correlated with live birth rate: analysis of more than 650,000 assisted reproductive technology cycles. Fertil Steril. 2015 Nov;104(5):1145-52.e1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.07.1151. Epub 2015 Aug 18.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26297646 (View on PubMed)

Escriva AM, Diaz-Garcia C, Monterde M, Rubio JM, Pellicer A. Antral Follicle Priming Before Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection in Previously Diagnosed Low Responders: A Randomized Controlled Trial (FOLLPRIM). J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Jul;100(7):2597-605. doi: 10.1210/jc.2015-1194. Epub 2015 May 8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25955224 (View on PubMed)

Fanchin R, Cunha-Filho JS, Schonauer LM, Kadoch IJ, Cohen-Bacri P, Frydman R. Coordination of early antral follicles by luteal estradiol administration provides a basis for alternative controlled ovarian hyperstimulation regimens. Fertil Steril. 2003 Feb;79(2):316-21. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(02)04574-0.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12568840 (View on PubMed)

Bosdou JK, Venetis CA, Kolibianakis EM, Toulis KA, Goulis DG, Zepiridis L, Tarlatzis BC. The use of androgens or androgen-modulating agents in poor responders undergoing in vitro fertilization: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod Update. 2012 Mar-Apr;18(2):127-45. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmr051. Epub 2012 Feb 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22307331 (View on PubMed)

Massin N, Cedrin-Durnerin I, Coussieu C, Galey-Fontaine J, Wolf JP, Hugues JN. Effects of transdermal testosterone application on the ovarian response to FSH in poor responders undergoing assisted reproduction technique--a prospective, randomized, double-blind study. Hum Reprod. 2006 May;21(5):1204-11. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dei481. Epub 2006 Feb 13.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16476678 (View on PubMed)

Balasch J, Fabregues F, Penarrubia J, Carmona F, Casamitjana R, Creus M, Manau D, Casals G, Vanrell JA. Pretreatment with transdermal testosterone may improve ovarian response to gonadotrophins in poor-responder IVF patients with normal basal concentrations of FSH. Hum Reprod. 2006 Jul;21(7):1884-93. doi: 10.1093/humrep/del052. Epub 2006 Mar 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16517559 (View on PubMed)

Fabregues F, Penarrubia J, Creus M, Manau D, Casals G, Carmona F, Balasch J. Transdermal testosterone may improve ovarian response to gonadotrophins in low-responder IVF patients: a randomized, clinical trial. Hum Reprod. 2009 Feb;24(2):349-59. doi: 10.1093/humrep/den428. Epub 2008 Dec 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19054777 (View on PubMed)

Kim CH, Howles CM, Lee HA. The effect of transdermal testosterone gel pretreatment on controlled ovarian stimulation and IVF outcome in low responders. Fertil Steril. 2011 Feb;95(2):679-83. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.07.1077.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20801436 (View on PubMed)

Kim CH, Ahn JW, Moon JW, Kim SH, Chae HD, Kang BM. Ovarian Features after 2 Weeks, 3 Weeks and 4 Weeks Transdermal Testosterone Gel Treatment and Their Associated Effect on IVF Outcomes in Poor Responders. Dev Reprod. 2014 Sep;18(3):145-52. doi: 10.12717/DR.2014.18.3.145.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25949183 (View on PubMed)

Bosdou JK, Venetis CA, Dafopoulos K, Zepiridis L, Chatzimeletiou K, Anifandis G, Mitsoli A, Makedos A, Messinis IE, Tarlatzis BC, Kolibianakis EM. Transdermal testosterone pretreatment in poor responders undergoing ICSI: a randomized clinical trial. Hum Reprod. 2016 May;31(5):977-85. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dew028. Epub 2016 Mar 7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26956551 (View on PubMed)

Vendola KA, Zhou J, Adesanya OO, Weil SJ, Bondy CA. Androgens stimulate early stages of follicular growth in the primate ovary. J Clin Invest. 1998 Jun 15;101(12):2622-9. doi: 10.1172/JCI2081.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9637695 (View on PubMed)

Weil S, Vendola K, Zhou J, Bondy CA. Androgen and follicle-stimulating hormone interactions in primate ovarian follicle development. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999 Aug;84(8):2951-6. doi: 10.1210/jcem.84.8.5929.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10443703 (View on PubMed)

Sen A, Hammes SR. Granulosa cell-specific androgen receptors are critical regulators of ovarian development and function. Mol Endocrinol. 2010 Jul;24(7):1393-403. doi: 10.1210/me.2010-0006. Epub 2010 May 25.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20501640 (View on PubMed)

Nielsen ME, Rasmussen IA, Kristensen SG, Christensen ST, Mollgard K, Wreford Andersen E, Byskov AG, Yding Andersen C. In human granulosa cells from small antral follicles, androgen receptor mRNA and androgen levels in follicular fluid correlate with FSH receptor mRNA. Mol Hum Reprod. 2011 Jan;17(1):63-70. doi: 10.1093/molehr/gaq073. Epub 2010 Sep 14.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20843821 (View on PubMed)

Walters KA. Role of androgens in normal and pathological ovarian function. Reproduction. 2015 Apr;149(4):R193-218. doi: 10.1530/REP-14-0517. Epub 2014 Dec 16.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25516989 (View on PubMed)

Fooladi E, Reuter SE, Bell RJ, Robinson PJ, Davis SR. Pharmacokinetics of a transdermal testosterone cream in healthy postmenopausal women. Menopause. 2015 Jan;22(1):44-9. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000000259.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24845394 (View on PubMed)

Sunkara SK, Rittenberg V, Raine-Fenning N, Bhattacharya S, Zamora J, Coomarasamy A. Association between the number of eggs and live birth in IVF treatment: an analysis of 400 135 treatment cycles. Hum Reprod. 2011 Jul;26(7):1768-74. doi: 10.1093/humrep/der106. Epub 2011 May 10.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21558332 (View on PubMed)

National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health (UK). Fertility: Assessment and Treatment for People with Fertility Problems. London: Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists; 2013 Feb. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK247932/

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25340218 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

TESTOPRIM

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Phlebotomy Study of Testosterone Undecanoate
NCT02670343 COMPLETED PHASE1/PHASE2