hCG Priming in Women With Diminished Ovarian Reserve

NCT ID: NCT07108621

Last Updated: 2025-09-17

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: PHASE3
• Total Enrollment: 80 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-09-30
• Study Completion Date: 2031-03-31

Brief Summary

The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to further examine the possible effects of low dose human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) priming for eight weeks in women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The investigators want to retest the findings of our first study in an identical paired design (NCT04643925), as an increase of 1.5 in mean number of oocytes retrieved is clinically relevant. To incorporate the strengths of a randomized controlled trial design, women will be randomized after their first ICSI treatment to receive either hCG or placebo in a double-blinded design during an eight-week priming period preceding their second ICSI treatment. The primary outcome is the number of oocytes retrieved in the second ICSI treatment.

Detailed Description

This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial investigates whether eight weeks of low-dose hCG (LH activity) can produce a local intra-ovarian androgen priming and stimulate theca cell androgen production and improve oocyte yield during IVF/ICSI in women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR).

The study is conducted at four public fertility clinics in Denmark: The Fertility Clinic at Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, the Fertility Clinic at Odense University Hospital, the Fertility Clinic at Hvidovre Hospital and the Fertility Clinic at Herlev Hospital.

Eligible women with DOR fulfilling the inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria and with an indication for IVF/ICSI are enrolled. Women can participate only once.

Participating women will undergo two identical ICSI cycles, ICSI I and ICSI II, separated by an eight-week priming period with either daily low dose hCG-injections (260 IU) or placebo-injections (NaCl) according to randomization. Eight weeks of hCG/placebo priming corresponds to two natural menstrual cycles. A freeze-all strategy is applied in the first ICSI treatment.

Both ICSI cycles follow a fixed GnRH-antagonist protocol with of 300 IU rFSH initiated from cd 2-3 and the GnRH antagonist (Ganirelix 0.25 mg) from stimulation day 5-6. The patients undergo routine transvaginal ultrasound scans on cd 2/3, and per standard clinical practice until the day of ovulation trigger. Ovulation trigger by 6500 IU hCG sc is planned at 10 pm according to standard clinical practice. Oocyte retrieval will be done ~36 hours after ovulation trigger. ICSI will be used as fertilization method.

If no dominant/pre-ovulatory follicles are seen after 21 days of stimulation, the cycle is cancelled, but participants continue in the study.

In ICSI I, all embryos are cultured to the blastocyst stage and vitrification is performed on day 5/6 (Gardner score ≥3CC or 2AB/BA/BB). In ICSI II, single fresh blastocyst transfer is performed on day 5 after oocyte retrieval if criteria are met (Gardner score ≥3CC or 2AB/BA/BB). Surplus blastocysts will be vitrified on day 5/6 (Garner score ≥3CC or 2AB/BA/BB). If only day 6 blastocysts are available, freeze-all and postponed frozen embryo transfer will be planned.

Patients with a body weight <60 kg are instructed to take the study (hCG- or placebo) injections every second day according to experience from our previous study.

The priming period constitutes of two menstrual cycles of around 28 days each, and thus the priming period is approximately eight weeks in total, however, this duration may be extended for one menstrual cycle in the event of important patient-related or clinical issues or other unforeseen circumstances.

Comprehensive records of medication dispensing, and return will be kept to ensure accurate accountability.

Monitoring and data collection:

Transvaginal ultrasonography TVUS is performed at cycle day 2-3 and on trigger day in both ICSI I and ICSI II, and twice during the priming period to assess follicle count and size and endometrial thickness (mm), appearance (triple layered (yes/no) and density (hypo-, iso- or hyperdense).

Blood samples Blood samples will be drawn during ICSI I and ICSI II (on cd 2-3, on the day of ovulation trigger, and on the day of oocyte retrieval) where the following reproductive hormones will be measured: inhibin B, LH, FSH, estradiol, progesterone, 17-OH-progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione, and DHEAS. Additionally, AMH will be measured on cd 2-3 of ICSI I and ICSI II.

Additionally, a full blood sample will be kept in a research biobank for DNA analysis for deeper understanding of genetic reasons of DOR.

During the priming period, blood samples will be drawn at two times at the beginning of each menstrual cycle for measurements of reproductive hormones as mentioned above. In addition, two blood samples are collected during the priming period for the research biobank. These samples will be used for batch analysis of hCG levels after study completion to confirm patient compliance.

Additional treatment and interventions for patients included at Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet:

During the priming period of the second menstruation, the patients will undergo follicle aspiration, if possible, of unstimulated antral follicles to collect follicular fluid and granulosa cells. The follicular fluid and granulosa cells from each patient will be stored in a research biobank for batch analyses of reproductive hormones after study completion. The granulosa cells will be examined for androgen and FSH receptor expression and protein levels.

Treatment related data are collected. Further, the following data will be collected from patient files: female age, weight, height, BMI, fresh cycle number, days of stimulation, total rFSH dose, number of oocytes retrieved, number of metaphase II (MII) oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, number and quality of day 2 embryos, number and quality of blastocysts and number of vitrified embryos/blastocysts, pregnancy and miscarriage rate after blastocyst transfer with blastocysts from ICSI II or postponed transfers from ICSI I.

Data will be transferred to an online eCRF; REDCap. The REDCap database has a complete audit trail and is based on anonymous subject identification numbers used in the trial. Data are backed up daily and stored on a server located in a locked facility in Denmark.

Statistics

Sample size calculation:

In our recently published paper on hCG priming investigated in a paired study design, the mean number (standard deviation (SD)) of oocytes retrieved was 3.2 (1.7) in the Control ICSI cycle and 4.7 (2.8) after eight weeks hCG priming. A sample size calculation using The POWER Procedure for a two-Sample t-test with Unequal Variances at a significance level of 0.05 showed that a total sample size of 78 women (39 in each group) will ensure a power of 80% or likely higher since baseline-adjustment usually leads to a substantial power gain, hence a total of 80 women will be included and randomized. Dropouts will be replaced until a total of 80 women have completed the study.

Statistical analyses:

Analyses will be performed in the per protocol population including all women completing ICSI I, the priming period, and ICSI II without any major protocol violations.

Since the primary outcome is an objective, quantifiable number that is routinely and always assessed and recorded as part of standard fertility treatment, the investigators expect study withdrawal and other violations to be limited and due to non-critical, random reasons. The total number of participants who are not per protocol will be reported, along with overall reasons for violations when available (e.g. difficulties in taking the trial medication, or personal reasons). Descriptive tables will be made to compare the characteristics of the women who are per protocol with the protocol violators and in case differential patterns occur between the randomisation groups, sensitivity analyses will be made to adjusting for potential confounders.

Spurious or implausible data points will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and excluded from the analysis if determined to be incorrect and not supported by clinical context.

The effect of hCG-priming vs placebo on the primary outcome, number of retrieved oocytes, will be evaluated using a constrained linear mixed model including period (ICSI I vs ICSI II) and the constrained treatment-period interaction as fixed effects and an unstructured covariance to account for repeated measurements on each woman. A two-sided p-value < 0.05 will be considered statistically significant for the primary analysis.

Quantitative secondary or exploratory outcomes will be analysed using a similar linear mixed model. All hormone concentrations will be log-transformed prior to analysis due to anticipated skewness. Count data will be compared between the treatments using constrained generalized estimating equations (GEE) with a log-link and an unstructured working covariance. Binary outcomes will be compared between the treatments using the Chi-Square Test. The p-values from the secondary analyses will be adjusted for multiple testing using the method of Benjamini and Hochberg which controls the false discovery rate. An adjusted p-values < 0.05 is considered statistically significant.

Conditions

Infertility, Female; Ovarian Reserve; In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

Study Design

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

Study Groups

hCG Priming

Women in the experimental group will undergo the following treatment in order:

A standard IVF/ICSI cycle (ICSI I): A standard IVF/ICSI cycle in the fixed GnRH-antagonist protocol using a daily dose of 300 IU rFSH initiated from cd 2-3 and a GnRH antagonist (Ganirelix 0.25 mg) from stimulation day 5-6 followed by blastocyst culture and a freeze-all strategy.

Priming period: hCG priming 260 IU once daily for two menstrual cycles (approximately 8 weeks).

A standard IVF/ICSI cycle (ICSI I): A standard IVF/ICSI cycle in the fixed GnRH-antagonist protocol using a daily dose of 300 IU rFSH initiated from cd 2-3 and a GnRH antagonist (Ganirelix 0.25 mg) from stimulation day 5-6 followed by blastocyst culture and a single blastocyst transfer at day 5.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Choriongonadotropin alfa (hCG)

Intervention Type: DRUG

hCG 260 IU once daily for two menstrual cycles (aproximately 8 weeks) prior til standard IVF/ICSI.

Placebo

Women in the placebo group will undergo the following treatment in order:

A standard IVF/ICSI cycle (ICSI I): A standard IVF/ICSI cycle in the fixed GnRH-antagonist protocol using a daily dose of 300 IU rFSH initiated from cd 2-3 and a GnRH antagonist (Ganirelix 0.25 mg) from stimulation day 5-6 followed by blastocyst culture and a freeze-all strategy.

Priming period: Placebo (isotone NaCl) injections once daily for two menstrual cycles (approximately 8 weeks).

A standard IVF/ICSI cycle (ICSI I): A standard IVF/ICSI cycle in the fixed GnRH-antagonist protocol using a daily dose of 300 IU rFSH initiated from cd 2-3 and a GnRH antagonist (Ganirelix 0.25 mg) from stimulation day 5-6 followed by blastocyst culture and a single blastocyst transfer at day 5.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Isotonic NaCl (Placebo)

Intervention Type: DRUG

Placebo priming (isotone NaCl) once daily for two menstrual cycles (approximately 8 weeks) prior to standard IVF/ICSI.

Interventions

Choriongonadotropin alfa (hCG)

hCG 260 IU once daily for two menstrual cycles (aproximately 8 weeks) prior til standard IVF/ICSI.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Isotonic NaCl (Placebo)

Placebo priming (isotone NaCl) once daily for two menstrual cycles (approximately 8 weeks) prior to standard IVF/ICSI.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Age 18-40 (both inclusive)
• Regular menstrual cycle (23-35 days)
• 1.-5. IVF/ICSI cycle at inclusion
• AMH < 6.29 pmol/L (Elecsys® AMH assay)

Exclusion Criteria

• Uterine malformations or hydrosalpinx
• Submucosal uterine myomas
• Uterine polyps
• Allergy to standard IVF/ICSI medication
• Endometriosis stage III-IV
• Preimplantation genetic testing
• Testicular sperm aspiration/extraction
• Ovarian enlargement or cysts (other than normally occurring corpora luteae)
• Gynaecological haemorrhages of unknown aetiology
• Known severe comorbidity*

• i.e., Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, thromboembolic (including active thromboembolic disorders), pulmonary, liver or kidney diseases, HIV or Hepatitis B/C, dysregulated thyroid disease, tumors of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland or ovarian, uterine, or mammary carcinoma.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Copenhagen University Hospital at Herlev

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Odense University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Kristine Loessl

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Kristine Loessl

Associate professor, Ph.D., MD

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Fertility Clinic, Department of Gynaecology, Fertility and Obstetrics, Copenhagen University Hosital Rigshospitalet

Copenhagen, , Denmark

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Denmark

Central Contacts

Kristine Løssl, Associate Professor, PhD, MD

Role: CONTACT

kristine.loessl@regionh.dk

+4535451077

References

Friis Wang N, Bogstad JW, Pors SE, Petersen MR, Pinborg A, Yding Andersen C, Lossl K. Eight weeks of androgen priming by daily low-dose hCG injections before ICSI treatment in women with low ovarian reserve. Hum Reprod. 2023 Apr 3;38(4):716-725. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dead012.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 36721920 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

2025-521234-28-00

Identifier Type: CTIS

Identifier Source: secondary_id

2025-521234-28

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id