The Feasibility of taVNS on Pregnancy Outcomes of Infertility Patients Undergoing IVF

NCT ID: NCT06742788

Last Updated: 2025-07-02

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

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

90 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-03-04

Study Completion Date

2025-12-30

Brief Summary

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To assess the feasibility of taVNS on pregnancy outcomes of infertility subjects undergoing IVF, the primary aim of this trial will focus on encompassing recruitment, compliance, and preliminary engagement outcomes.

The exploratory aim is to carry out clinical research, which entails evaluating the preliminary effects of the intervention in order to ascertain its potential benefits.

The main question it aims to answer is: Does the taVNS is feasible and tolerated in the context of IVF?

What medical problems do participants have when using the taVNS device? Researchers will compare the taVNS to the sham transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (a look-alike device that produces a sub-threshold therapeutic stimulus and functions as a sham stimulus) and blank control to see if the taVNS device works to enhance outcomes of IVF.

Participants will:

Use the device a total of 1.5 hours daily, with the sessions divided into three parts, each lasting 30 minutes. At least one of these periods occur within 2 hours before bedtime.

Visit the clinic according to the scheduled treatment time points of IVF. Keep a diary of their adverse events and the number of times they use the device.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Infertility Assisted Reproductive Technology

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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the taVNS group

The taVNS group receives Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) along with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment. The taVNS protocol is configured with a pulse width of 500 µs, a frequency of 25 Hz, and a current intensity titrated to each patient's pain tolerance threshold (range: 0.5-2.0 mA). The stimulation is to be carried out for a total of 1.5 hours daily, with the sessions divided into three parts, each lasting 30 minutes. At least one of these periods occur within 2 hours before bedtime.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS)

Intervention Type DEVICE

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) is an emerging, non-invasive adjunctive therapy.

The taVNS protocol is configured with a pulse width of 500 µs, a frequency of 25 Hz, and a current intensity titrated to each patient's pain tolerance threshold (range: 0.5-2.0 mA). The stimulation is to be carried out for a total of 1.5 hours daily, with the sessions divided into three parts, each lasting 30 minutes. At least one of these periods occur within 2 hours before bedtime.

The study will use the Chinese National Institutes for Food and Drug Control certificated taVNS device TVNS-100 (Xinzhile Medical Technology Co., Jiangxi, China). The study includes an intervening period of 4 weeks.

the staVNS group

The staVNS group receives sham transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation, along with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment. The staVNS protocol is set at a pulse width of 500 µs and a frequency of 25 Hz, with an intensity value of 0.1 mA.The stimulation of 0.1 mA acts as a therapeutic signal below the threshold level and functions as a sham stimulus. The stimulation is to be carried out for a total of 1.5 hours daily, with the sessions divided into three parts, each lasting 30 minutes. At least one of these periods occur within 2 hours before bedtime.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

sham transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (staVNS)

Intervention Type DEVICE

The sham transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (staVNS) serves as a sub-threshold therapeutic stimulus functions as a sham stimulus. The staVNS protocol is set at a pulse width of 500 µs and a frequency of 25 Hz, with an intensity value of 0.1 mA. The stimulation is to be carried out for a total of 1.5 hours daily, with the sessions divided into three parts, each lasting 30 minutes. At least one of these periods occur within 2 hours before bedtime. The study will use the Chinese National Institutes for Food and Drug Control certificated taVNS device TVNS-100 (Xinzhile Medical Technology Co., Jiangxi, China). The study includes an intervening period of 4 weeks.

the IVF control group

The IVF control group refers to receiving only in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment without any additional Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) treatment.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS)

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) is an emerging, non-invasive adjunctive therapy.

The taVNS protocol is configured with a pulse width of 500 µs, a frequency of 25 Hz, and a current intensity titrated to each patient's pain tolerance threshold (range: 0.5-2.0 mA). The stimulation is to be carried out for a total of 1.5 hours daily, with the sessions divided into three parts, each lasting 30 minutes. At least one of these periods occur within 2 hours before bedtime.

The study will use the Chinese National Institutes for Food and Drug Control certificated taVNS device TVNS-100 (Xinzhile Medical Technology Co., Jiangxi, China). The study includes an intervening period of 4 weeks.

Intervention Type DEVICE

sham transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (staVNS)

The sham transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (staVNS) serves as a sub-threshold therapeutic stimulus functions as a sham stimulus. The staVNS protocol is set at a pulse width of 500 µs and a frequency of 25 Hz, with an intensity value of 0.1 mA. The stimulation is to be carried out for a total of 1.5 hours daily, with the sessions divided into three parts, each lasting 30 minutes. At least one of these periods occur within 2 hours before bedtime. The study will use the Chinese National Institutes for Food and Drug Control certificated taVNS device TVNS-100 (Xinzhile Medical Technology Co., Jiangxi, China). The study includes an intervening period of 4 weeks.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Subjects aged 20 to 40 years, diagnosed with infertility, and preparing to undergo IVF treatment;
2. Female subjects with anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) \> 1.2 ng/mL;
3. Scoring at mild-to-moderate levels of impairment on anxiety, and depression scales;
4. Both the subject and their family sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria

1. The subject had been treated with taVNS in the past;
2. Subjects preparing to undergo frozen embryo transfer;
3. Subjects with a history of mental disorder or who score at a severe level of impairment on anxiety and depression scales;
4. Taking sedatives, anxiety, depression, or psychiatric medications;
5. Comorbidities including arrhythmia, hypertension, diabetes, chronic heart and kidney diseases;
6. Ineligibility for enrollment assessed by a gynecologist or neurologist;
7. Metallic implants or devices contraindicating taVNS.
Minimum Eligible Age

20 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

40 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Xijing Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Liu Yonghong, MD

Associate Director of Neurology

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Yonghong Liu

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Xijing Hospital

Locations

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Xijing Hospital

Xi'an, Shaanxi, China

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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China

Central Contacts

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Xiaofei Fei

Role: CONTACT

+8613822311264

Yonghong Liu

Role: CONTACT

+8629-84771377

Facility Contacts

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Yonghong Liu

Role: primary

+8629-84771377

Other Identifiers

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KY20242351liuyonghong

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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