vaginal culture using invocell compared to traditional ivf incubation

Conditions: Infertility

Summary: the purpose of this study is to evaluate intravaginal culture using the medical device invocell to generate day 5 blastocysts in comparison to traditional ivf.

this is a phase iii, single center, open label randomized comparative trial to evaluate intravaginal culture using invocell vs. traditional ivf to generate day 5 embryos pilot: 40 couples (80 patients), randomized to receive either intravaginal culture (n=20) using the invocell or traditional ivf (n=20) primary endpoints: blastocyst generation rate: number of day 5 embryos of "good quality" defined as 2bb or greater (expansion of embryo 2,3,4,5 or 6 and inner cell mass and outer cell mass grades of a or b) or higher using the gardner grading system divided by the number of eggs incubated patient acceptability of invocell and intravaginal culture. secondary endpoints: live birth rate: number of cycles with a live birth divided by the number of cycles with embryo transfers. clinical pregnancy rate: number of cycles with fetal heartbeat at week 7 divided by the number of cycles with embryo transfers. fertilization rate: number of embryos obtained after incubation divided by the number of oocytes placed in the device. embryo transfer rate: number of cycles initiated divided by the number of cycles with embryo transfers miscarriage rate: number of miscarriages divided by the number of cycles with embryo transfers multiple rate: number cycles with twins or triplets divided by the number of cycles with embryo transfers miscarriage rate per clinical pregnancy: number of miscarriages divided by the number of cycles with clinical pregnancy

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: couples who will participate to the study will be pre selected for the following major indications: women diagnosed with: * tubal factor * endometriosis (type i to ii) * ovulatory dysfunction (slight) * multiple female factors (\<2) males with slight male factor couples with: * unknown factor * multiple factors, from female and male origin (\<2) * other rare factors not excluded by the inclusion/exclusion criteria (e.g. cervical mucus immune factor not treatable by iui) the pre-selected couples will be included in the study only if they fulfill the more specific inclusion and exclusion criteria below. couples may be included in the study only if they have been informed about the study and have given their written consent. infertile couple with failure to conceive a recognized pregnancy after one year (or 12 menstrual cycles) of unprotected intercourse ivf has been determined by the physician to be their next treatment women included in the study should: * be between the age of 18 and 38 (up to 38th birthday at the time of the enrollment). * have had a normal gynecological examination and pap smear in the last 12 months. * have a normal follicle stimulating hormone (\<10 miu/ml) and e2 (\<250 pmol/l) on day 3, determined in the past 12 months * have an anti-mullerian hormone \>1 or \<3 ng/ml * have had a normal baseline pelvic ultrasound examination in the past 12 months * have a normal uterine cavity as assessed in the past year by hysterosalpingogram, sonohysterography or hysteroscopy. prior tubal ligation is acceptable. * have had negative cervical tests for g.c and chlamydia in the past 12 months. have male partner with a normal semen analysis with a total number of \> 15 million total motile spermatozoa with normal morphology or borderline normal morphology (\> 3% with the strict criteria) and a progression rating of \>2. exclusion criteria: women to be excluded from this study are those who have: * inability to read and speak english fluently * a history of recurrent vaginitis * a history of toxic shock syndrome * known allergies to plastic, human serum proteins or gentamicin * had pelvic surgery within the past 8 weeks, excluding diagnostic laparoscopy * pelvic inflammatory disease (pid) within the past 3 months and were treated with antibiotics * severe endometriosis (stage iii-iv) or endometriomas (past or present) * clinical signs of vaginal infection * significant abnormalities of the vaginal cavity * sub mucus or intramural fibroids (\>1 cm diameter) * hydrosalpinx * chronic illness, e.g. autoimmune disease, diabetes * bmi \>36 * donor oocytes, donor sperm * antral follicle count \ 20 * anti-mullerian hormone \ 3 * previously responded poorly to ovarian stimulation and polycystic ovary patients * high responder to ovarian stimulation * cervical stenosis, as demonstrated by failed mock embryo transfer * cannot tolerate a speculum examination * unwilling or unable to wear a retention system (diaphragm) during the 5 days of incubation. \> 2 previously failed ivf (neg βhcg) * previously failed fertilization of all oocytes previous ivf cycle * smoke or abuse drugs and alcohol * poor understanding of the procedure * partner with vasectomy reversal * partner with difficulty in producing sperm specimen * partner with uro-genital infection. sperm culture will be performed if the partner shows or has shown some symptoms of uro-genital infection.

Keywords: intravaginal culture in vitro fertilization blastocyst pregnancy