Ovarian Needle Puncture for Follicle Activation in IVF Patients With Diminished Ovarian Reserve

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), is cessation of ovarian function characterized by hypergonadotropic amenorrhea and hypoestrogenic syndrome before 40 years of age. About 1% of women younger than 40 years old and 0.1% before 30 are affected. POI imposes a great challenge on women's reproductive and long-term health, such as infertility, amenorrhea, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease. Most patients already had impaired or complete loss of fecundity when diagnosed. Currently, no optimal regimen exists to ameliorate ovarian function. Typically, they end up with egg donation or adoption as an alternative way. Less severe form of POI is diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). Although lack of consensus according to Bologna criteria cut off for DOR was defined as (antral follicle count (AFC) <5-7 follicles or anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) <0.5-1.1 ng/ml). Previously it has been showed that 24% of women with POI had resumption of ovarian function and 4% resulted in baby births. These data indicates residual follicles are available in atrophic ovaries and have potential for development and even fertilization. In routine IVF practice 15% percent of patients have poor ovarian response to ovarian stimulation. Patients with DOR with a previous poor ovarian response (cycles cancelled or yielding ≤3 oocytes with a conventional protocol) might have benefit from the strategies increasing follicle activation and number of growing follicles and oocyte retrieved. Therefore, strategies enabling ovarian resumption predictable and follicle activation feasible are promising for POI/DOR treatment. Recently, In vitro Activation (IVA) approach has been proposed and live births have been achieved in patients with POI. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) enzyme inhibitors and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase activators could activate AKT pathway and activate the dormant follicles. Ovarian fragmentation could lead to ovarian primary follicle growth by interfering with Hippo signaling pathway. Residual follicles in patients with POI could be activated to develop for egg retrieval by combination of mechanical and chemical stimulation. In 2019, Zhang et al retrospectively analyzed the follicle development and pregnancy outcome in 80 POI patients after laparoscopic ovarian biopsy/scratch without using chemical agents as was the case in IVA. 11 (13.75%) patients presented with ovarian function resumption, three metaphases II oocytes were retrieved in 10 patients and two embryos were formed and freshly transferred followed by a healthy singleton delivery in 1 (1.25%) patient. They concluded that the technique of ovarian biopsy/scratch without chemical activation could promote follicle development in vivo, suggesting it could bring promising benefits for some women with POI. In patient with POI/DOR, activation of residual follicles is a promising option and further studies are warranted. Previous studies included laparoscopic surgery which may lead to possible surgical complications. Without using chemical agents and laparoscopic surgery, main object of this study is mechanical follicle activation with trans-vaginal ovarian needle puncture with 17 gauge oocyte pickup needle in IVF patients with DOR.

Official Title
-----------------
Ovarian Needle Puncture for Follicle Activation in IVF Patients With Diminished Ovarian Reserve

Conditions
-----------------
Activation of Primordial Follicles

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Procedure: Ovarian puncture


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: Patients with diminished ovarian reserve <3 oocytes collected in previous cycle (with anti-mullerian hormone <0.5 ng/mL and/or antral follicle count <5) Cycles stimulated with flexible antagonist protocol Cycles triggered with recombinant hCG Fresh transfer cycles Patients with <40 years of age BMI <30 kg/m2 Exclusion Criteria: Preimplantation genetic testing Azospermia

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Maximum Age: 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
No

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Control ovary<br> | |
| Experimental: Punctured ovary<br> | Procedure: Ovarian puncture<br>* One side ovary of each patient included in the study, will be punctured 10 times under trans-vaginal ultrasound guidance with 17 gauge ovarian pick up needle, 1 month before the scheduled IVF cycle. Control group will be the other side ovary for each patient. Number of ≥ 14 mm follicle and collected oocytes will be compared.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of ≥14 mm follicle | Number of ≥14 mm follicle on the trigger day | 4 month after intervention as a response to ovarian stimulation | 
| Antral follicle count | Antral follicle count | 4 month after intervention on the second/third day of menstrual cycle | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of collected oocytes | Number of collected oocytes on the oocyte pick-up day | 4 month after intervention as a response to ovarian stimulation | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
Follicle Activation, Premature Ovarian Insufficiency, Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Ovarian Puncture