Clinical trial NCT03974295: The Impact of Vaginal Intercourse on Pregnancy Rates After Frozen Embryo Transfer
Official title: The Impact of Vaginal Intercourse on Pregnancy Rates After Frozen Embryo Transfer; A Single Blinded Randomized Trial.
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Phase: NA
Conditions: Infertility
Pregnancy Related
IVF
Lead sponsor: University of South Florida
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2019-06-04
Enrollment: 400
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 55
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: This study aims to evaluate whether allowing unprotected vaginal intercourse 24 hours after frozen embryo transfer will result in higher ongoing clinical pregnancy rates in comparison to having participants abstain from unprotected vaginal intercourse until pregnancy test (10-14 days after frozen embryo transfer).

Detailed description: Given the overwhelming evidence suggesting beneficial effect of seminal plasma on embryo implantation, we sought to explore this benefits in in vitro fertilization treatments by limiting the study cohort to those having frozen embryo transfer with programmed hormone replacement for endometrial preparation and some form of parenteral progesterone supplementation. This design will enable us to overcome the concerns and limitations of all previous studies. In this study, patients will be randomized into two groups, group 1 will have their frozen embryo transfer followed by current standard of care (no unprotected vaginal intercourse until pregnancy test) and group 2 will have their frozen embryo transfer followed by unlimited unprotected vaginal intercourse starting 24 hours after transfer. The primary endpoint of the study will be ongoing clinical pregnancy

rates in the two groups while secondary endpoints will include implantation, positive pregnancy, miscarriage and live birth rates. Overall, this study aims to investigate whether the elimination of current universal pelvic rest protocol in patients undergoing frozen embryo transfer will help optimize pregnancy outcomes.

This study aims to evaluate whether allowing unprotected vaginal intercourse 24 hours after frozen embryo transfer will result in higher ongoing clinical pregnancy rates in comparison to having participants abstain from unprotected vaginal intercourse until pregnancy test (10-14 days after frozen embryo transfer).

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* female fertility patients having frozen embryo transfer
* programmed hormone replacement (Oral Estrace, Vivelle dot (patch), intravenous Estradiol) with and without gonadotrophin releasing hormone analogue pretreatment and some form of parenteral progesterone supplementation (daily or every 3 days intramuscular Progesterone) for luteal support

Exclusion Criteria:

* unable to provide informed consent
* not undergoing programmed hormone replacement for frozen embryo transfer (natural cycle frozen embryo transfer)
* undergoing fresh embryo transfer
* not able to engage in heterosexual intercourse (same sex couple, partner with severe sexual dysfunction)
* cannot undergo unprotected vaginal intercourse (infected with hepatitis B, C, or human immunodeficiency virus).

Primary outcomes:
measure: Pregnancy rates
timeFrame: up to 2 years
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Implantation rates
timeFrame: up to 2 years
measure: Clinical pregnancy rate
timeFrame: up to 2 years
measure: Biochemical pregnancy rate
timeFrame: up to 2 years
measure: Miscarriage rate
timeFrame: up to 2 years
measure: Live birth rate
timeFrame: up to 2 years
Other outcomes:
Locations:
Study officials:
References:
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