View clinical trials related to Fertility.
Filter by:The investigators are testing the hypothesis that two ounces of whole-shelled walnuts/day added to the diet of men seeking care for infertility will beneficially affect sperm parameters and fertility. The investigators will compare the walnut intervention to the commonly suggested recommendation of adding an OTC multivitamin supplement to the diet.
The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of conducting an Internet-based prospective pregnancy study with preconception enrollment with women completing daily journals for up to 12 months while trying to conceive and weekly through pregnancy if it occurs.
A new concept for observing the fine morphology of spermatozoa at high magnification (x6000) with an inverted microscope, a numeric camera using differential interference contrast has been developed (1). This technique called Motile Sperm Organellar Morphology Examination allows to see some abnormalities, mainly vacuoles on the head of spermatozoa. These vacuoles appear to be related to sperm DNA damage and to affect embryo developmental potential (2, 3, 4). The application of Motile Sperm Organellar Morphology Examination may represent an improvement in the evaluation of semen quality, with some potential clinical repercussions at the diagnostic/prognostic level. First of all, the investigators need data on fertile men in order to define " normality " of sperm morphology at high magnification. The aim of this study is therefore to better characterize these vacuoles (number, surface, position) in a population of men fertile in order to establish normality criteria.
The United States has the highest prevalence of obesity among all countries surveyed in 2012 by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Maternal obesity is linked with anovulation, menstrual cycle abnormalities, subfertility, fetal loss, obstetrical complications and congenital anomalies. Changes in reproductive hormones and diminished oocyte quality have also been demonstrated. A gap of knowledge exists as the mechanisms underlying these harmful effects are poorly understood and no specific treatments exist. This proposal will test the hypothesis that dietary omega-3 FA will improve the output of hypothalamicpituitary- ovarian axis in obese women. The investigators will perform paired assessments before and after supplementation in 10 obese and 10 normal weight women. To test the pituitary and hypothalamic output, the investigators will examine the luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) responsiveness during frequent blood sampling. To test the corpus luteum function, the investigators will examine urinary reproductive hormones (E1c, estrone conjugates, and Pdg, pregnanediol glucuronide) over an entire menstrual cycle. Our ultimate goal is to collect preliminary data for an adequately powered randomized control trial.
The aim of our study is to define the optimal ovarian stimulation protocol concerning PGD and for this reason we plan a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist protocol versus GnRH antagonist protocol. The follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) preparation in both arms will be highly purified FSH (Menopur®).
The purpose of this study is to determine if utilizing GnRH antagonists versus agonist long protocol during controlled ovarian stimulation (COH) with human-derived gonadotropins for assisted reproduction affects IVF outcome, peak estradiol level, and duration of stimulation.
Indications for oocyte (egg) vitrification (fast freezing) include the preservation of reproductive competence of young cancer patients who need chemotherapy, pelvic radiation, or surgical removal of ovaries for treatment. Furthermore, the ability to freeze oocytes allows patients to reduce the number of embryos frozen, thereby circumventing the moral and ethical dilemmas of having left-over embryos in cryostorage. In addition, oocyte cryopreservation could allow women to delay childbearing if they want or need to. Until recently, conventional cryopreservation protocols have remained too inefficient for practical application in an infertility center. Very little is known about the effects of vitrification on oocytes and subsequent embryo development, especially using the sibling model (group of oocytes from the same cohort of ovarian follicles within patient). The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of oocyte vitrification on fertilization rates, embryo quality and development.
Ovarian toxicity is a well-described side effect of traditional chemotherapy in premenopausal women receiving treatment for early stage breast cancer. However, the impact of long-term endocrine therapy on ovarian function is not established, and to our knowledge, has never been directly studied. Understanding the effects of hormone therapy on ovarian aging will help breast cancer patients of reproductive age make more informed and empowered decisions regarding their treatment. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between tamoxifen therapy and ovarian aging. Patients will be identified through the UCSF Cancer Registry and California Pacific Medical Center Cancer Registry and will be evaluated based on age and menopausal status. Women who read about the study from clinicaltrials.gov and contact the study coordinator will also be considered for enrollment. The age of menopause onset will be assessed through surveys and will be compared to the accepted national average age of natural menopause. Biomarkers of ovarian reserve will be assessed in premenopausal women between ages 25-45 and will be compared to those of healthy age- and ethnicity-matched premenopausal controls from an ongoing RO1- funded prospective longitudinal ovarian aging (OVA) study.
A single center, open label randomized clinical trial designed to examine ovarian follicular dynamics following attempted atresia induction during the late follicular and early luteal phase of the menstrual cycle using an aromatase inhibitor. We hypothesize that administration of an aromatase inhibitor (AI) at biologically important times of the natural menstrual cycle will cause ovulatory failure in women with preovulatory follicles and failure of luteogenesis in women who have recently ovulated. It is proposed that atresia of the dominant follicle and formation of anovulatory structures will be associated with arrested endometrial development and a shortened interval to menstrual bleeding (3 days). We anticipate that this will provide us with information to facilitate the development of a new method for emergency contraception and a greater understanding of human folliculogenesis. The rationale for the proposed research project is based on the ovarian synchronization concepts developed and documented in the bovine model in the Reproductive Science and Medicine Research group at the University of Saskatchewan combined with novel human ovarian wave concepts of folliculogenesis first elucidated in the Women's Health Imaging Research Laboratory (WHIRL) in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences.
The Creighton Model (CrM) FertilityCare System is a natural family planning method that teaches couples to recognize and chart the signs of fertility and infertility in the woman's cycle and to use that knowledge to either achieve or avoid a pregnancy. The method is natural, safe and effective, and it helps the couple understand their fertility. Trained practitioners at FertilityCare Centers teach the Creighton Model across the country, internationally and long distance. Several FertilityCare Centers and the University of Utah are conducting a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Creighton Model (CrM) for new and return users wanting to avoid pregnancy. While past studies have shown that the Creighton Model is a highly effective method, this study will use new ways to measure how well it works. This is important because the knowledge gained will improve comparisons between the Creighton Model and other family planning methods. The study will also explore intentions and behaviors of couples to avoid or achieve a pregnancy. The investigators hypothesize that for the CrM the pregnancy rate during perfect use to avoid pregnancy will be about 1% and the behaviorally determined avoiding-related pregnancy rate for the CrM will be about 6%. The investigators will also evaluate the pregnancy rate during "typical use" without a previously stated intention to conceive (in CrM terms, a mixture of avoiding and achieving-related behavior).