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Low-dose HCG as an Adjunct to Ovarian Stimulation in Subfertile Women Undergoing ART

A Prospective, Multicenter, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Phase III Clinical Study, on the Efficacy and Safety of Low-dose hCG in a Short Protocol With GnRH Agonist and Ovarian Stimulation With Recombinant FSH (rFSH) During the Follicular Phase in Subfertile Women Undergoing ART

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03423537
Acronym
HCG
Enrollment
80
Registered
2018-02-06
Start date
2018-06-01
Completion date
2019-04-30
Last updated
2021-03-30

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

HCG; IVF; Pregnancy Rates; ART; Chorionic Gonadotropin

Brief summary

The objective of this prospective randomized clinical trial is to investigate whether the addition of low-dose hCG to a short GnRH-agonist protocol for IVF and ovarian stimulation with rFSH from the onset of the follicular phase and throughout stimulation in sub fertile women undergoing IVF, improves pregnancy rates.

Detailed description

This is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two parallel group of patients, Phase IIIb clinical study to test the efficacy and safety of adding low-dose hCGs in a short protocol with GnRH agonist and ovarian stimulation with recombinant FSH (rFSH) from the onset of the follicular phase and throughout the duration of stimulation in enrolled women to the increase in the rate of clinical pregnancies. Main end point will be the rate of clinical pregnancy (positive heart rate at 7 weeks of gestation in the ultrasound), while secondary endpoints will be * The number of follicles (\> 11,\> 14,\> 18 mm) on the day of triggering with hCG * The thickness of the endometrium on the day of follicular maturation * Live birth rates * Automatic abortion rates (loss of pregnancy after positive heart function up to 20 weeks of gestation) * The rate of ongoing pregnancy (positive heart function after 12 weeks of gestation), * The percentage of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (after triggering) with hCG for the next 2 weeks * The rate of multiple pregnancy. Participants will be randomly divided into two groups: the intervention group (Group 1) and the control group (Group 2). Randomization will be done using sealed envelopes marked Group 1 and Group 2. The randomization list will be prepared centrally for the four participating clinics (research centers) and there will be a stratification per center, per 30, respectively, and will be shared among the participants. Group 1 will indicate the application of the protocol by adding hCG with the initiation of controlled ovarian stimulation protocol for IVF / ICSI with rFSH, and Group 2 will indicate the application of the conventional protocol without the addition of hCG . Each patient's assignment to a treatment group will be made by calling the unit's midwife who will have 2 envelopes with the above indications and who will not be present when the pair is informed by 2 members of the research team.

Interventions

DRUGhCG

the addition of hCG (Pregnyl®, MSD Greece) will begin with the administration of gonadotrophin at a dose of 100 IU per day, administered subcutaneously, and will continue until the administration of hCG for follicular maturation.

DRUGPlacebo

100IU per day containing N/S 0.9% will be injected

Sponsors

University of Thessaly
CollaboratorOTHER
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
35 Years to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. Age: between 35 and 40 years of age, 2. Physiological menstrual cycles (24-35 day cycle), 3. Normal endocrine function (normal PRL and TSH, FSH ≤ 15 IU / ml), 4. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) without pathological findings, 5. Free personal medical history, 6. Indication for IVF / ICSI (NICE, 2016) 7. 1st or 2nd IVF / ICSI cycle

Exclusion criteria

1. Endocrine or metabolic disorders, e.g. PCO (S) 2. Pathology of the uterus and / or endometrium, 3. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), 4. Basal FSH levels\> 15 IU / ml, 5. Surgery in the ovaries, 6. Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg / m2, 7. Age: \<35 years &\> 41 years old

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
number of transferred embryos21 days after the beginning of ovarian stimulationnumber of high quality transferred embryos at day 3
The rate of clinical pregnancy7 weeks after the initiation of treatmentPositive heart rate at 7 weeks of gestation in ultrasound

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of follicles2 weeks after the initiation of treatment(\> 11,\> 14,\> 18 mm) on the day of triggering with hCG
The thickness of the endometrium2 weeks after the initiation of treatmentOn the day of follicular maturation (triggering) with hCG
Automatic abortion rates - miscarriageup to 20 weeks of gestation(Lss of pregnancy after positive heart function up to 20 weeks of gestation
The percentage of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome2 weeks after the hCG triggeringAfter triggering with hCG

Countries

Greece

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026