A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Embryo Euploidy Rates Following Ultrashort Versus Standard Abstinence

NCT ID: NCT07062237

Last Updated: 2025-07-14

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 187 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-07-31
• Study Completion Date: 2027-06-30

Brief Summary

This research is being done to determine if producing sperm after an ultrashort period of abstinence (1 hour of abstinence) will be effective in improving the rates of embryos with normal chromosomes (structures that carry genetic information) during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. The investigators hypothesize that a shorter period of abstinence is effective at improving rates of normal chromosomes among embryos.

Detailed Description

As part of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process, eggs are removed from the ovaries and are inseminated (mixed) or injected with sperm. Typically, sperm samples for IVF are produced on the day of egg retrieval. The current recommendation for abstinence prior to providing this sample is 2-7 days. However, new research has shown that there may be improved IVF outcomes with a shorter period of abstinence including improved integrity of sperm DNA (called sperm DNA fragmentation), sperm parameters (such as motility and shape), embryo quality, implantation rates, pregnancy rates, and live birth rates. One small study found that shorter abstinence may even lead to a higher rate of chromosomally normal embryos.

The purpose of this research study is to determine whether using an ultrashort period of abstinence increases the rates of embryos with normal chromosomes. On the day of egg retrieval, participants will produce two semen samples. The first sample will be collected after 2-5 days of abstinence (standard abstinence). The second sample will be collected 1 hour after the first sample (ultrashort abstinence). Both of these samples will be used for IVF.

At the time of egg retrieval, participants will have their eggs randomized (like the flip of a coin) into two groups. Half of the eggs will be exposed to sperm produced after 2-5 days of abstinence (standard abstinence). The other half of the eggs will be exposed to sperm produced after 1 hour of abstinence (ultrashort abstinence). The goal is to determine the rate of embryos with normal chromosomes in each group. Other goals include looking at how many patients get pregnant after embryo transfer.

Conditions

Infertility; Male Factor Infertility

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: QUADRUPLE

Study Groups

Ultrashort abstinence

Half of participants eggs will be exposed to sperm produced after ultrashort abstinence (1 hour of abstinence).

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Ultrashort abstinence

Intervention Type: OTHER

Ultrashort abstinence: producing a sperm sample after 1 hour of abstinence.

Standard abstinence

Half of participants eggs will be exposed to sperm produced after standard abstinence (2-5 days of abstinence).

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Standard abstinence

Intervention Type: OTHER

Standard abstinence: producing a sperm sample after 2-5 days of abstinence.

Interventions

Ultrashort abstinence

Ultrashort abstinence: producing a sperm sample after 1 hour of abstinence.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Standard abstinence

Standard abstinence: producing a sperm sample after 2-5 days of abstinence.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Subjects are nonpregnant females ≥ 18 years and ≤ 42 years of age.
• Subjects obtain greater than or equal to 6 mature oocytes at the time of oocyte retrieval for ICSI or greater than or equal to 8 oocytes at the time of oocyte retrieval for standard insemination.
• Subjects are utilizing standard insemination or ICSI for fertilization.
• Subjects are undergoing PGT-A (PGT for aneuploidy) or PGT-M (PGT for monogenic disorders).
• Subjects are willing to comply with study protocol and procedures and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

• Subjects are utilizing donor oocytes, donor sperm, or gestational carrier.
• Subjects have a diagnosis of cryptozoospermia (no spermatozoa identified in fresh semen sample).
• Subjects are utilizing surgically removed sperm (e.g. via testicular sperm aspiration [TESA] or microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration [MESA]).
• Subjects are utilizing frozen/thawed sperm, including in cases in which a fresh sample was planned and the sample is insufficient for use.
• Subjects are utilizing frozen/thawed oocytes.
• Subjects undergoing PGT-SR (PGT for structural rearrangements).
• Subjects are undergoing a day 3 (cleavage stage) embryo transfer.
• Subjects obtain less than 6 mature oocytes at the time of oocyte retrieval for ICSI or less than 8 oocytes at the time of oocyte retrieval for standard insemination.
• Subjects obtain greater than or equal to 6 mature oocytes at the time of oocyte retrieval for ICSI or greater than or equal to 8 oocytes at the time of oocyte retrieval for standard insemination but choose to fertilize fewer than 6 (for ICSI) or 8 (for standard insemination).
• Male partner is unable to produce a second semen sample within three hours of the first semen sample (standard abstinence sample)
• Male partner has an infectious disease.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 42 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services, P.C.

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

UConn Health

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Lawrence Engmann

M.D., M.R.C.O.G

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services, P.C.

Farmington, Connecticut, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Facility Contacts

Lawrence Engmann, M.D., M.R.C.O.G

Role: primary

research@uconnfertility.com

(844) 467 3483

Other Identifiers

25-238-1

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id