Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

NCT number NCT06372119
Other study ID # 13/23/DD-BVMD
Secondary ID
Status Recruiting
Phase N/A
First received
Last updated
Start date April 22, 2024
Est. completion date April 2026

Study information

Verified date May 2024
Source M? Ð?c Hospital
Contact Nam T Nguyen, MD.
Phone +84354120209
Email bsnam.nt@myduchospital.vn
Is FDA regulated No
Health authority
Study type Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of the letrozole-stimulated cycle strategy versus the artificial cycle strategy for endometrial preparation in women with irregular menstrual cycles after one cycle of endometrial preparation. The primary question it aims to answer is: • Does the letrozole-stimulated cycle strategy for endometrial preparation result in a higher live birth rate compared to the artificial cycle strategy in women with irregular menstrual cycles after one cycle of endometrial preparation? Participants will undergo screening before endometrial preparation for frozen embryo transfer, following which they will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: LETS or AC. In the LETS group, investigators will prescribe letrozole 5 milligrams/day for 5 days to stimulate follicular development and micronized progesterone 800 milligrams/day for luteal phase support. In contrast, the AC group will receive oral estradiol valerate 6-12 milligrams/day and micronized progesterone 800 milligrams/day. Researchers will compare the LETS and AC groups to determine if there are differences in live birth rates.


Description:

Freeze-all and later frozen embryo transfer (FET) to reduce the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a common strategy in modern assisted reproduction technology (ART). Preparing the endometrium for FET in women with irregular menstrual cycles poses a challenge due to limited protocol options. There are two basic endometrial preparation regimens before FET: artificial cycle (AC) or natural cycle (NC). NC is often only considered if the woman has regular ovulation. In women with irregular menstrual cycles, the most popular conventional technique of endometrial preparation is AC. The advantages of AC include its convenience (meaning that the window of implantation can be determined actively and correctly) and its adaptability (meaning that the duration and the dose of exposure to estradiol and progesterone hormones can be flexibly scheduled). On the other hand, artificial exogenous estradiol levels may diminish endometrial receptivity, increase the risk of thrombosis and cancer, and negatively impact the baby's outcomes. Furthermore, the absence of the corpus luteum and its products in early pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of placentation deficiency and an increased risk of (pre)eclampsia, which is already common in this population. The current modern approach in endometrial preparation is to create the endometrial proliferative phase that mimics the NC's physiology and to attempt to produce the corpus luteum. Previous studies showed that in the general population, ovulation-based cycles resulted in considerably greater pregnancy rates than AC, regardless of whether ovulation was natural or inducted. Exogenous gonadotropins, clomiphene citrate (CC), and aromatase inhibitors (AI) are the three types of ovulation-inducing agents widely utilized for women with irregular menstrual periods. Gonadotropin is not patient-friendly due to the route of administration and increases the risk of OHSS. CC is well-known for its antagonistic effect on estrogen receptors and its negative impact on endometrial receptivity. Letrozole, a preferred drug in the AI group, has been explored for almost two decades to avoid the drawbacks of other methods. First, letrozole can stimulate mono-follicular growth and minimize the incidence of OHSS at a low cost and in a more patient-friendly manner. Second, letrozole decreases intraovarian and serum estrogen levels, thereby upregulating endometrial estrogen receptors, increasing endometrial sensitivity to estrogen increase, and preventing premature progesterone action, which results in increased endometrial proliferation. Thirdly, there was evidence that letrozole may improve endometrial receptivity by modulating the formation of αvβ3 and HOXA10 integrin, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), L-selectin, and pinopode formation. The findings of some previous studies showed that the letrozole-stimulated cycle was superior to AC in terms of improving clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate, and lower risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, pre-ecclampisa and also decreasing the risk of ectopic pregnancy. However, there was also evidence that shows no consistent advantage of letrozole as compared to AC. Notably, prior research on the effectiveness of letrozole in endometrial preparation for FET was predominantly retrospective. There were few randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing the letrozole-stimulated cycle versus AC. However, these studies found similar treatment outcomes with two endometrial preparation methods. The sample size was also limited (N < 150), and letrozole was often used in combination with hMG concurrently. This study will be undertaken at IVFMD, a reproductive center of My Duc Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to provide evidence on how effective letrozole is compared to conventional AC.


Recruitment information / eligibility

Status Recruiting
Enrollment 790
Est. completion date April 2026
Est. primary completion date April 2026
Accepts healthy volunteers Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Gender Female
Age group 18 Years to 42 Years
Eligibility Inclusion Criteria: - Aged between 18 - 42. - Irregular menstrual cycle (< 21 days or > 35 days or < 8 cycles/years). - Indicated for endometrial preparation. - Transfer of only one blastocyst. - Not participating in any other trials. Exclusion Criteria: - Allergy to letrozole or Ovitrelle or oral estradiol valerate or micronized progesterone - Having embryos from either oocyte donation or PGT (pre-implantation genetics testings) cycles. - Ovarian cysts that are unrelated to the oocyte pick-up. - Confirmed diagnosis with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) according to ESHRE guideline 2023, recurrent implantation failure (RIF) according to ESHRE 2023 good practice recommendations. - Endometrial abnormalities include endometrial hyperplasia, intrauterine adhesions, endometrial polyp, and chronic endometritis. - Uterine abnormalities include leiomyomas L0, L1, or L2 (according to FIGO 2011); adenomyosis (according to MUSA 2022); congenital uterine abnormalities, include didelphus, arcuate, unicornuate, bicornuate, septate (according to ASRM 2021). - Untreated hydrosalpinx.

Study Design


Intervention

Procedure:
Letrozole-stimulated cycle strategy
Letrozole (Femara® 2.5 milligrams, Novartis, Switzerland or Lezra® 2.5 milligrams, Actavis, Rumani) 5 milligrams/day for 5 days, starting on the second to fourth day of the menstrual cycle. Post-letrozole, ultrasound checks follicle growth. If =18mm, Ovitrelle® 250 mcg (Merck, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA) induces ovulation. Luteal phase support with vaginal micronized progesterone (Cyclogest® 400 milligrams, Actavis, UK or Utrogestan® 200 milligrams, Besins, Belgium) 800 milligrams/day starting two days post-hCG. Embryo transfer, 5 days post-progesterone. Ultrasounds use Samsung HS-30, vaginal probe, and =7.5MHz frequency. Hormonal support until the 12th gestational week with vaginal micronized progesterone 800 milligrams/day. Cycle cancellation criteria: no follicle development on day 21 from the day of starting letrozole, spontaneous ovulation, letrozole intolerance, fluid retention. Cycle cancellation will be noted as a study's outcome.
Artificial cycle strategy
Oral estradiol valerate (Progynova® 2 milligrams, Bayer Pharma AG, Germany or Valiera® 2 milligrams, Laboratories Recalcine, Chile) 6 milligrams/day for 10 days, starting on the second to fourth day of the menstrual cycle. Post-estradiol, ultrasound checks endometrial thickness. If =7mm, start vaginal micronized progesterone (Cyclogest® 400 milligrams, Actavis, UK or Utrogestan® 200 milligrams, Besins, Belgium) 800 milligrams/day. If <7mm, increase the dose of oral estradiol valerate to 8 milligrams/day (5-6 days) and 12 milligrams/day (5-6 days). Embryo transfer, 5 days post-progesterone. Ultrasounds use Samsung HS-30, vaginal probe, and =7.5MHz frequency. Hormonal support until the 12th gestational week with vaginal micronized progesterone 800 milligrams/day. Cycle cancellation criteria: endometrial thickness <7mm on day 21 of using estradiol, spontaneous ovulation, oral estradiol valerate intolerance, fluid retention. Cycle cancellation will be noted as a study's outcome.

Locations

Country Name City State
Vietnam My Duc Hospital Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam My Duc Phu Nhuan Hospital Ho Chi Minh City

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor Collaborator
M? Ð?c Hospital

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Vietnam, 

References & Publications (53)

ACOG Committee on Obstetric Practice. ACOG practice bulletin. Diagnosis and management of preeclampsia and eclampsia. Number 33, January 2002. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2002 Apr;77(1):67-75. — View Citation

Aleyasin A, Aghahosseini M, Safdarian L, Noorzadeh M, Fallahi P, Rezaeian Z, Hoseinimosa S. Can letrozole plus HMG protocol improve pregnancy outcomes in frozen-thawed embryo transfer? An RCT. Int J Reprod Biomed. 2017 Feb;15(2):83-86. — View Citation

Aslih N, Dorzia D, Atzmon Y, Estrada D, Ellenbogen A, Bilgory A, Shalom-Paz E. Ovulatory-Based FET Cycles May Achieve Higher Pregnancy Rates in the General Population and among Anovulatory Women. J Clin Med. 2021 Feb 11;10(4):703. doi: 10.3390/jcm10040703. — View Citation

Atkinson M, Crittenden J, Smith H, Sjoblom C. Retrospective cohort study on preparation regimens for frozen embryo transfer. Reprod Fertil. 2021 Nov 23;2(4):308-316. doi: 10.1530/RAF-21-0044. eCollection 2021 Dec. — View Citation

Bocca-Tjeertes IF, Kerstjens JM, Reijneveld SA, Veldman K, Bos AF, de Winter AF. Growth patterns of large for gestational age children up to age 4 years. Pediatrics. 2014 Mar;133(3):e643-9. doi: 10.1542/peds.2013-0985. Epub 2014 Feb 24. — View Citation

Braakhekke M, Kamphuis EI, Dancet EA, Mol F, van der Veen F, Mol BW. Ongoing pregnancy qualifies best as the primary outcome measure of choice in trials in reproductive medicine: an opinion paper. Fertil Steril. 2014 May;101(5):1203-4. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.03.047. — View Citation

Casper RF, Mitwally MF. Use of the aromatase inhibitor letrozole for ovulation induction in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Dec;54(4):685-95. doi: 10.1097/GRF.0b013e3182353d0f. — View Citation

Chung TW, Park MJ, Kim HS, Choi HJ, Ha KT. Integrin alphaVbeta3 and alphaVbeta5 are required for leukemia inhibitory factor-mediated the adhesion of trophoblast cells to the endometrial cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2016 Jan 22;469(4):936-40. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.12.103. Epub 2015 Dec 24. — View Citation

Committee on Practice Bulletins-Obstetrics. Practice Bulletin No. 183: Postpartum Hemorrhage. Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Oct;130(4):e168-e186. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000002351. — View Citation

de Onis M, Habicht JP. Anthropometric reference data for international use: recommendations from a World Health Organization Expert Committee. Am J Clin Nutr. 1996 Oct;64(4):650-8. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/64.4.650. — View Citation

Donderwinkel PF, Schoot DC, Pache TD, de Jong FH, Hop WC, Fauser BC. Luteal function following ovulation induction in polycystic ovary syndrome patients using exogenous gonadotrophins in combination with a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist. Hum Reprod. 1993 Dec;8(12):2027-32. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a137976. — View Citation

Duffy JMN, Bhattacharya S, Bhattacharya S, Bofill M, Collura B, Curtis C, Evers JLH, Giudice LC, Farquharson RG, Franik S, Hickey M, Hull ML, Jordan V, Khalaf Y, Legro RS, Lensen S, Mavrelos D, Mol BW, Niederberger C, Ng EHY, Puscasiu L, Repping S, Sarris I, Showell M, Strandell A, Vail A, van Wely M, Vercoe M, Vuong NL, Wang AY, Wang R, Wilkinson J, Youssef MA, Farquhar CM; Core Outcome Measure for Infertility Trials (COMMIT) initiative. Standardizing definitions and reporting guidelines for the infertility core outcome set: an international consensus development study. Fertil Steril. 2021 Jan;115(1):201-212. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.11.013. Epub 2020 Nov 30. — View Citation

ElSayed NA, Aleppo G, Aroda VR, Bannuru RR, Brown FM, Bruemmer D, Collins BS, Hilliard ME, Isaacs D, Johnson EL, Kahan S, Khunti K, Leon J, Lyons SK, Perry ML, Prahalad P, Pratley RE, Seley JJ, Stanton RC, Gabbay RA, on behalf of the American Diabetes Association. 2. Classification and Diagnosis of Diabetes: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2023. Diabetes Care. 2023 Jan 1;46(Suppl 1):S19-S40. doi: 10.2337/dc23-S002. Erratum In: Diabetes Care. 2023 Feb 01;: Diabetes Care. 2023 Sep 1;46(9):1715. — View Citation

ESHRE Working Group on Recurrent Implantation Failure; Cimadomo D, de Los Santos MJ, Griesinger G, Lainas G, Le Clef N, McLernon DJ, Montjean D, Toth B, Vermeulen N, Macklon N. ESHRE good practice recommendations on recurrent implantation failure. Hum Reprod Open. 2023 Jun 15;2023(3):hoad023. doi: 10.1093/hropen/hoad023. eCollection 2023. — View Citation

Franik S, Eltrop SM, Kremer JA, Kiesel L, Farquhar C. Aromatase inhibitors (letrozole) for subfertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 May 24;5(5):CD010287. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010287.pub3. — View Citation

Ganesh A, Chauhan N, Das S, Chakravarty B, Chaudhury K. Endometrial receptivity markers in infertile women stimulated with letrozole compared with clomiphene citrate and natural cycles. Syst Biol Reprod Med. 2014 Apr;60(2):105-11. doi: 10.3109/19396368.2013.862316. Epub 2013 Dec 5. — View Citation

Godiwala P, Makhijani R, Bartolucci A, Grow D, Nulsen J, Benadiva C, Grady J, Engmann L. Pregnancy outcomes after frozen-thawed embryo transfer using letrozole ovulation induction, natural, or programmed cycles. Fertil Steril. 2022 Oct;118(4):690-698. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.06.013. Epub 2022 Jul 19. — View Citation

Haouzi D, Assou S, Mahmoud K, Tondeur S, Reme T, Hedon B, De Vos J, Hamamah S. Gene expression profile of human endometrial receptivity: comparison between natural and stimulated cycles for the same patients. Hum Reprod. 2009 Jun;24(6):1436-45. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dep039. Epub 2009 Feb 26. — View Citation

Harmsen MJ, Van den Bosch T, de Leeuw RA, Dueholm M, Exacoustos C, Valentin L, Hehenkamp WJK, Groenman F, De Bruyn C, Rasmussen C, Lazzeri L, Jokubkiene L, Jurkovic D, Naftalin J, Tellum T, Bourne T, Timmerman D, Huirne JAF. Consensus on revised definitions of Morphological Uterus Sonographic Assessment (MUSA) features of adenomyosis: results of modified Delphi procedure. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2022 Jul;60(1):118-131. doi: 10.1002/uog.24786. — View Citation

Healey S, Tan SL, Tulandi T, Biljan MM. Effects of letrozole on superovulation with gonadotropins in women undergoing intrauterine insemination. Fertil Steril. 2003 Dec;80(6):1325-9. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2003.03.001. — View Citation

Hecher K, Diehl W. Chapter 13 - Multiple pregnancies. In Wladimiroff JW, Eik-Nes SH, editors. Ultrasound Obstet Gynaecol 2009. p. 247-258. Elsevier: Edinburgh. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780444518293000131.

Herskovits AZ, Chen Y, Latifi N, Ta RM, Kriegel G. False-Negative Urine Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Testing in the Clinical Laboratory. Lab Med. 2020 Jan 2;51(1):86-93. doi: 10.1093/labmed/lmz039. — View Citation

Hosseini-Najarkolaei A, Moini A, Kashani L, Farid Mojtahedi M, Hosseini-Najarkolaee E, Salehi E. The effect of letrozole versus artificial hormonal endometrial preparation on pregnancy outcome after frozen-thawed embryos transfer cycles: a randomized clinical trial. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2020 Nov 20;18(1):115. doi: 10.1186/s12958-020-00675-z. — View Citation

Hu YJ, Chen YZ, Zhu YM, Huang HF. Letrozole stimulation in endometrial preparation for cryopreserved-thawed embryo transfer in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a pilot study. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2014 Feb;80(2):283-9. doi: 10.1111/cen.12280. Epub 2013 Jul 24. — View Citation

Khadem Ghaebi N, Mahmoudiniya M, Najaf Najafi M, Zohdi E, Attaran M. Comparison of letrozole with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist in frozen embryo transfer after recurrent implantation failure: An RCT. Int J Reprod Biomed. 2020 Feb 27;18(2):105-112. doi: 10.18502/ijrm.v18i2.6417. eCollection 2020 Feb. — View Citation

Li SJ, Zhang YJ, Chai XS, Nie MF, Zhou YY, Chen JL, Tao GS. Letrozole ovulation induction: an effective option in endometrial preparation for frozen-thawed embryo transfer. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2014 Mar;289(3):687-93. doi: 10.1007/s00404-013-3044-0. Epub 2013 Oct 10. — View Citation

Lin J, Wang N, Huang J, Cai R, Fan Y, Kuang Y, Wang Y. Pregnancy And Neonatal Outcomes Of hMG Stimulation With Or Without Letrozole In Endometrial Preparation For Frozen-Thawed Embryo Transfer In Ovulatory Women: A Large Retrospective Cohort Study. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2019 Nov 14;13:3867-3877. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S212235. eCollection 2019. — View Citation

Lou L, Xu Y, Lv M, Yu J, Xiao Q, Chen P, Bai M, Zhang Z. Comparison of different endometrial preparation protocols on frozen embryo transfer pregnancy outcome in patients with normal ovulation. Reprod Biomed Online. 2022 Dec;45(6):1182-1187. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2022.06.026. Epub 2022 Jul 4. — View Citation

Macrosomia: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 216. Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Jan;135(1):e18-e35. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003606. — View Citation

Miller PB, Parnell BA, Bushnell G, Tallman N, Forstein DA, Higdon HL 3rd, Kitawaki J, Lessey BA. Endometrial receptivity defects during IVF cycles with and without letrozole. Hum Reprod. 2012 Mar;27(3):881-8. doi: 10.1093/humrep/der452. Epub 2012 Jan 13. — View Citation

Montville CP, Khabbaz M, Aubuchon M, Williams DB, Thomas MA. Luteal support with intravaginal progesterone increases clinical pregnancy rates in women with polycystic ovary syndrome using letrozole for ovulation induction. Fertil Steril. 2010 Jul;94(2):678-83. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.03.088. Epub 2009 Jun 9. — View Citation

Munro MG, Critchley HO, Broder MS, Fraser IS; FIGO Working Group on Menstrual Disorders. FIGO classification system (PALM-COEIN) for causes of abnormal uterine bleeding in nongravid women of reproductive age. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2011 Apr;113(1):3-13. doi: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2010.11.011. Epub 2011 Feb 22. — View Citation

Niu Y, Zhao D, Wang Y, Suo L, Zou J, Wei D. Ovulation induction regimens are associated with a higher rate of livebirth after frozen single-blastocyst transfer among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022 Aug 15;13:987813. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.987813. eCollection 2022. — View Citation

Oxford Textbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2020; Oxford University Press Available from: https://academic.oup.com/book/29679.

Pathirana J, Munoz FM, Abbing-Karahagopian V, Bhat N, Harris T, Kapoor A, Keene DL, Mangili A, Padula MA, Pande SL, Pool V, Pourmalek F, Varricchio F, Kochhar S, Cutland CL; Brighton Collaboration Neonatal Death Working Group. Neonatal death: Case definition & guidelines for data collection, analysis, and presentation of immunization safety data. Vaccine. 2016 Dec 1;34(49):6027-6037. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.03.040. Epub 2016 Jul 19. — View Citation

Pfeifer SM, Attaran M, Goldstein J, Lindheim SR, Petrozza JC, Rackow BW, Siegelman E, Troiano R, Winter T, Zuckerman A, Ramaiah SD. ASRM mullerian anomalies classification 2021. Fertil Steril. 2021 Nov;116(5):1238-1252. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.09.025. Erratum In: Fertil Steril. 2023 Jun;119(6):1088. — View Citation

Rezk M, Hamza H, El-Shamy ES. Luteal support with vaginal dydrogesterone increases pregnancy rate in patients with clomifene resistant polycystic ovary syndrome receiving letrozole for ovulation induction. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2019 Mar;35(3):217-219. doi: 10.1080/09513590.2018.1512571. Epub 2018 Oct 16. — View Citation

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Antepartum Haemorrhage (Green-top Guideline No. 63). 2011; Available from: https://www.rcog.org.uk/guidance/browse-all-guidance/green-top-guidelines/antepartum-haemorrhage-green-top-guideline-no-63/.

Samsami A, Ghasmpour L, Davoodi S, Moradi Alamdarloo S, Rahmati J, Karimian A, Homayoon H. Frozen embryo transfer: Endometrial preparation by letrozole versus hormone replacement cycle: A randomized clinical trial. Int J Reprod Biomed. 2019 Dec 30;17(12):915-922. doi: 10.18502/ijrm.v17i12.5793. eCollection 2019 Dec. — View Citation

Simon C, Cano F, Valbuena D, Remohi J, Pellicer A. Clinical evidence for a detrimental effect on uterine receptivity of high serum oestradiol concentrations in high and normal responder patients. Hum Reprod. 1995 Sep;10(9):2432-7. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a136313. — View Citation

Sotiriadis A, Papatheodorou S, Makrydimas G. Threatened miscarriage: evaluation and management. BMJ. 2004 Jul 17;329(7458):152-5. doi: 10.1136/bmj.329.7458.152. No abstract available. — View Citation

Teede HJ, Misso ML, Costello MF, Dokras A, Laven J, Moran L, Piltonen T, Norman RJ; International PCOS Network. Recommendations from the international evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. 2018 Aug;110(3):364-379. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.05.004. Epub 2018 Jul 19. — View Citation

Teede HJ, Tay CT, Laven JJE, Dokras A, Moran LJ, Piltonen TT, Costello MF, Boivin J, Redman LM, Boyle JA, Norman RJ, Mousa A, Joham AE. Recommendations From the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2023 Sep 18;108(10):2447-2469. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgad463. — View Citation

Wang X, Chen C, Wang L, Chen D, Guang W, French J. Conception, early pregnancy loss, and time to clinical pregnancy: a population-based prospective study. Fertil Steril. 2003 Mar;79(3):577-84. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(02)04694-0. — View Citation

Webster K, Fishburn S, Maresh M, Findlay SC, Chappell LC; Guideline Committee. Diagnosis and management of hypertension in pregnancy: summary of updated NICE guidance. BMJ. 2019 Sep 9;366:l5119. doi: 10.1136/bmj.l5119. No abstract available. — View Citation

Zegers-Hochschild F, Adamson GD, Dyer S, Racowsky C, de Mouzon J, Sokol R, Rienzi L, Sunde A, Schmidt L, Cooke ID, Simpson JL, van der Poel S. The International Glossary on Infertility and Fertility Care, 2017. Hum Reprod. 2017 Sep 1;32(9):1786-1801. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dex234. — View Citation

Zeng MF, Zhou X, Duan JL. Stimulated cycle versus artificial cycle for frozen embryo transfer in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a Meta-analysis. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2021 Apr;37(4):294-299. doi: 10.1080/09513590.2020.1867976. Epub 2021 Jan 10. — View Citation

Zhang J, Li Z, Sun L, Guan Y, Du M. Comparison of Pregnancy and Neonatal Outcomes of Single Frozen Blastocyst Transfer Between Letrozole-Induction and HRT Cycles in Patients With Abnormal Ovulation. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2021 Apr 16;12:664072. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2021.664072. eCollection 2021. — View Citation

Zhang J, Wang L, Li C, Zhang H, Li R, Li M. Letrozole promotes the expression of integrin alphavbeta3 and HOXA10 in endometrium of endometriosis. Syst Biol Reprod Med. 2022 Apr;68(2):121-128. doi: 10.1080/19396368.2021.2013577. Epub 2021 Dec 28. — View Citation

Zhang J, Wei M, Bian X, Wu L, Zhang S, Mao X, Wang B. Letrozole-induced frozen embryo transfer cycles are associated with a lower risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Jul;225(1):59.e1-59.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.01.024. Epub 2021 Jan 30. — View Citation

Zhang W, Liu Z, Zhang J, Ren B, Liu M, Li J, Zhang W, Guan Y. Comparison of Perinatal Outcomes of Letrozole-Induced Ovulation and Hormone Replacement Therapy Protocols in Patients With Abnormal Ovulation Undergoing Frozen-Thawed Embryo Transfer: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022 Mar 16;13:837731. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.837731. eCollection 2022. — View Citation

Zhang Y, Fu X, Gao S, Gao S, Gao S, Ma J, Chen ZJ. Preparation of the endometrium for frozen embryo transfer: an update on clinical practices. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2023 Jun 8;21(1):52. doi: 10.1186/s12958-023-01106-5. — View Citation

Zhang Y, Wu L, Li TC, Wang CC, Zhang T, Chung JPW. Systematic review update and meta-analysis of randomized and non-randomized controlled trials of ovarian stimulation versus artificial cycle for endometrial preparation prior to frozen embryo transfer in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2022 Apr 2;20(1):62. doi: 10.1186/s12958-022-00931-4. — View Citation

* Note: There are 53 references in allClick here to view all references

Outcome

Type Measure Description Time frame Safety issue
Primary Live birth rate after one cycle of endometrial preparation Live birth will be defined as the complete expulsion or extraction from a woman of a product of fertilization, after 22 completed weeks of gestational age; which, after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as heart beat, umbilical cord pulsation or definite movement of voluntary muscles, irrespective of whether the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is atached. A birth weight of 500 grams or more can be used if gestational age is unknown. Twin and higher multiple births will be reported as a single live birth event. After 22 completed weeks of gestational age.
Secondary Positive pregnancy test after one cycle of endometrial preparation Defined as serum human chorionic gonadotropin level greater than 25 mIU/mL. At 11 days after blastocyst transfer.
Secondary Clinical pregnancy after one cycle of endometrial preparation Diagnosed by ultrasonographic visualization of one or more gestational sacs or definitive clinical signs of pregnancy at 6 weeks or more after the onset of last menstrual period. In addition to intra-uterine pregnancy, it includes a clinically documented ectopic pregnancy. First ultrasound before 6 weeks of gestational age.
Secondary Ongoing pregnancy after one cycle of endometrial preparation Defined as pregnancy with a detectable heart rate at 12 weeks gestation or beyond. After 12 weeks of gestational age.
Secondary Multiple pregnancy after one cycle of endometrial preparation Defined as the presence of more than one gestational sac at early pregnancy ultrasound (6-9 weeks gestation) (Hecher and Diehl, 2009). Ultrasound at 6-9 weeks of gestational age.
Secondary Implantation rate after one cycle of endometrial preparation A cycle in which monitoring has been initiated with the intention to treat but which did not proceed to embryo transfer (as defined above). Ultrasound at 6-9 weeks of gestational age.
Secondary Cycle cancellation rate A cycle in which monitoring has been initiated with the intention to treat but which did not proceed to embryo transfer due to the criteria defined above or protocol violation. During the intervention (on day 21 from the day of starting to use letrozole or valiera).
Secondary Ectopic pregnancy rate after one cycle of endometrial preparation A pregnancy outside the uterine cavity, diagnosed by ultrasound, surgical visualization or histopathology. Ultrasound at 6-9 weeks of gestational age.
Secondary Threatened miscarriage rate before 12 weeks of gestation after one cycle of endometrial preparation Vaginal bleeding before 12 weeks of gestation. At 12 weeks of gestational age.
Secondary Early miscarriage rate after one cycle of endometrial preparation Spontaneous loss of pregnancy up to 12 weeks of gestation (Oxford Textbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2020). At 12 weeks of gestational age.
Secondary Late miscarriage rate after one cycle of endometrial preparation Spontaneous loss of pregnancy between12 to 22 weeks of gestation (Oxford Textbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2020). At 22 weeks of gestational age.
Secondary Gestational age at birth Calculated by gestational age of all live births On the day of delivery.
Secondary Onset of labor Spontaneous, labor induction, elective C-section. On the day of delivery.
Secondary Mode of delivery Vaginal delivery, C-section (elective, suspected fetal distress, non-progressive labor). On the day of delivery.
Secondary Very low birth weight Birth weight less than 1500g. On the day of delivery.
Secondary Low birth weight Birth weight less than 2500g. On the day of delivery.
Secondary High birth weight (macrosomia) Implies growth beyond an absolute birth weight, historically 4000 g or 4500 g, regardless of the gestational age ("Macrosomia: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 216," 2020). On the day of delivery.
Secondary Very high birth weight (macrosomia) Birth weight over than 4500 g for women with diabetes, and a threshold of 5000 g for women without diabetes ("Macrosomia: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 216," 2020). On the day of delivery.
Secondary Gestational diabetes (GDM) Diagnosed according to the latest version of ADA guidelines: a 75-g OGTT, with plasma glucose measurement when patient is fasting and at 1 and 2 h, at 24-28 weeks of gestation in women not previously diagnosed with diabetes; fasting: 92 mg/dL (5.1 mmol/L); 1h: 180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L); 2h: 153 mg/dL (8.5 mmol/L). At 24-28 weeks of gestational age.
Secondary Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy Comprising pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), pre-eclampsia/eclampsia and Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome. PIH diagnosed after 20 weeks' gestation; systolic blood pressure =140 mmHg or diastolic pressure =90 mmHg on two occasions, two hours apart, or severely elevated single blood pressure measurement requiring an hypertensive medication. Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia diagnosed according to ACOG practice bulletin (ACOG Committee on Obstetric Practice, 2002). Diagnosis and management of preeclampsia and eclampsia. HELLP syndrome is defined as a condition with the clinical presentation of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) elevated to 600 IU/L or more, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevated more than twice the upper limit of normal, and the platelets count less than 100000 × 10^9/L (ACOG Committee on Obstetric Practice, 2002). On the day of delivery.
Secondary Preterm birth Defined as delivery at <24, <28, <32, <37 completed weeks. A birth that takes place after 22 weeks and before 37 completed weeks of gestational age. On the day of delivery.
Secondary Stillbirth The death of a fetus prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother after 28 completed weeks of gestational age. The death will be determined by the fact that, after such separation, the fetus does not breathe or show any other evidence of life, such as heartbeat, umbilical cord pulsation, or definite movement of voluntary muscles. Note: It includes deaths occurring during labor. On the day of delivery.
Secondary Antepartum hemorrhage Defined as bleeding from or into the genital tract, occurring from 24 weeks of pregnancy and prior to the birth of the baby (Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 2011). On the day of delivery.
Secondary Postpartum hemorrhage Defines as cumulative blood loss greater than or equal to 1,000 mL or blood loss accompanied by signs or symptoms of hypovolemia within 24 hours after the birth process (includes intrapartum loss) regardless of route of delivery (Committee on Practice Bulletins-Obstetrics, 2017). On the day of delivery.
Secondary Small for gestational age (singleton/twins) Small for gestational age was defined as a birth weight below the 10th percentile (de Onis and Habicht, 1996). On the day of delivery.
Secondary Large for gestational age (singleton/twins) Large for gestational age was defined as a birth weight above the 90th percentile. On the day of delivery.
Secondary Birth weight In grams; of singletons and twins. On the day of delivery.
Secondary Congenital anomalies Structural or functional disorders that occur during intra-uterine life and can be identified prenatally, at birth, or later in life. Congenital anomalies can be caused by single gene defects, chromosomal disorders, multifactorial inheritance, environmental teratogens, and micronutrient deficiencies. The time of identification should be reported. Within 28 days of birth.
Secondary NICU admission Counting number of babies admited to neonatal intensive care unit. Within 28 days of birth.
Secondary Reason for NICU admission Respiratory distress, intraventricular hemorrhagea, necrotizing enterocolitis, or sepsis. Within 28 days of birth.
Secondary Neonatal mortality rate Death of a live-born baby within 28 days of birth. This can be divided into early neonatal mortality, if death occurs in the first seven days after birth, and late neonatal if death occurs between eight and 28 days after delivery. Within 28 days of birth.
See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Recruiting NCT03642665 - Natural Versus Artificial Cycle for Frozen-Thawed Embryo Transfer Phase 4
Completed NCT01919502 - Semi-quantitative Pregnancy Test to Monitor hCG Levels After Assisted Fertility Treatment N/A
Completed NCT03292770 - Mucus Removal Before Embryo Transfer N/A
Recruiting NCT06134609 - Does Sexual Intercourse Affect the Outcomes of Frozen-thawed Embryo Transfer? N/A
Completed NCT03040830 - Effect of Timing Progesterone Luteal Support on Embryo Transfer Phase 4
Recruiting NCT04725864 - Progesterone as Luteal Support in Frozen IVF Natural Cycles Phase 4
Recruiting NCT04619524 - Biomarkers of Endometrial Receptivity N/A
Completed NCT04297553 - Fresh Versus Freeze-only After CAPA IVM on PCOS Patients N/A
Completed NCT01846403 - Feasibility and Acceptability of Using the Semi-quantitative Pregnancy Test in an Assisted Fertility Setting N/A
Completed NCT02703181 - Dose Escalation Study to Evaluate the Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of Epelsiban Administered in Repeat Doses in Healthy Women Volunteers Phase 1
Recruiting NCT02825290 - Modified Luteal Support for Frozen-Thawed Embryo Transfer - A Prospective Study Phase 4
Completed NCT01863680 - Phase 3 Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of COL-1620 Vaginal Progesterone Gel Phase 3
Terminated NCT03386227 - Prophylactic Antibiotics Prior to Embryo Transfer (PAPET): RCT N/A
Recruiting NCT04124913 - Oral Dydrogesterone vs. Micronized Vaginal Progesterone for Luteal Phase Support in Frozen-thawed Embryo Transfer Cycles Phase 4
Completed NCT05364528 - Pregnancy Rate in Direct Versus Afterload Technique of Embryo Transfer
Completed NCT04253470 - Debate on Progesterone Elevation on the Day of Triggering
Completed NCT03581422 - Natural Cycles With Spontaneous Versus Induced Ovulation in FET
Completed NCT02257359 - Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of Epelsiban in Healthy Female Volunteers Phase 1
Not yet recruiting NCT06084793 - Music for Anxiety in Embryo Transfers N/A
Completed NCT03201783 - Immediate Versus Delayed FET Following a Stimulated IVF Cycle N/A