Reproductive Outcome After Sperm Selection for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) Using Zona Pellucida Proteins

NCT ID: NCT05161247

Last Updated: 2025-05-21

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

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

368 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-12-03

Study Completion Date

2024-07-05

Brief Summary

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The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of a sperm selection method by adhesion to partners' zona pellucida proteins on the assisted reproduction treatment (ART) outcome parameters.

Detailed Description

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The success rate after treatment by in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) depends on the sperm selection process. Classical sperm selection techniques are based on the spermatozoa morphology and motility, therefore are not able to measure the sperm ability to recognise the oocyte. Furthermore it is known that semen samples showing higher adherence rate to zona pellucida have higher fertilisation potential than spermatozoa that fail to bind to zona proteins.

There have been numerous reports on applying partner' native zona pellucida in sperm selection prior ICSI. However, these studies imply the whole native zona pellucida, while this study will focus on the application of acid-solubilized zonae pellucidae.

Here in this study, the aim is to assess the fertilisation rate, the number and quality of the formed embryos, implantation and ongoing pregnancy success after sperm selection for ICSI by their ability to adhere to immobilized zona pellucida proteins.

Conditions

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Infertility, Male

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

After couples are recruited for the study they will be randomly allocated to zona selection group (study group) and normal ICSI (control group). For the study group zonae pellucidae from germinal vesicle (GV) or metaphase I (MI) stage oocytes from the female partners will be collected and acid-solubilised to obtain zona proteins. The acid-solubilised zonae will be coated on petri dishes. On the day of their follicular punction the spermatozoa for ICSI in the study group will be selected according to their ability to adhere to the coated zona pellucida proteins from their partner. On the day of their follicular punction the spermatozoa for ICSI in the control group will be selected with no intervention.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Zona pellucida sperm selection

Semen processing: liquefaction followed by centrifugation and swim-up.

Zona pellucida sperm selection: Spermatozoa are selected according to their ability to adhere to zona pellucida proteins obtained from their partners native zona pellucida.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): Each oocyte is injected with a single morphologically normal spermatozoa. The injection procedure is carried out in a sterilized dish using holding pipette and injection needle.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Zona pellucida sperm selection

Intervention Type OTHER

Sperm selection for ICSI based on the spermatozoa ability to adhere to immobilized zona pellucida proteins.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

Intervention Type OTHER

Normal ICSI procedure.

Conventional sperm selection

Semen processing: liquefaction followed by centrifugation and swim-up. Samples are incubated until time of injection.

Conventional sperm selection: Spermatozoa are selected according to their morphology.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): Each oocyte is injected with a single morphologically normal spermatozoa. The injection procedure is carried out in a sterilized dish using holding pipette and injection needle.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Conventional sperm selection

Intervention Type OTHER

Sperm selection for ICSI based on the sperm morphology.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

Intervention Type OTHER

Normal ICSI procedure.

Interventions

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Zona pellucida sperm selection

Sperm selection for ICSI based on the spermatozoa ability to adhere to immobilized zona pellucida proteins.

Intervention Type OTHER

Conventional sperm selection

Sperm selection for ICSI based on the sperm morphology.

Intervention Type OTHER

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

Normal ICSI procedure.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Clinical diagnosis for primary or secondary infertility
* Healthy females
* Clinical diagnosis for unexplained infertility
* Females between 20 and 45 years old.
* Males between 20 and 50 years old.
* At least 3 retrieved oocytes per follicular puncture with at least 1 oocyte at germinal vesicle (GV) or metaphase I (MI) stage

Exclusion Criteria

* Presence of low quality oocytes
* Females with endometrial or ovarian infertility factor
Minimum Eligible Age

20 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

50 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Nadezhda Women's Health Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Nadezhda Women's Health Hospital

Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria

Site Status

Countries

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Bulgaria

Other Identifiers

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59/03122021

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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