Skip to content

Natural Cycle vs Programmed Cycle Frozen Embryo Transfer

Preeclampsia Following Natural vs. Artificial Cycle Frozen Embryo Transfer

Status
Terminated
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05716139
Enrollment
172
Registered
2023-02-08
Start date
2023-07-15
Completion date
2024-03-26
Last updated
2025-04-03

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

Conditions

Frozen Embryo Transfer, Infertility, Preeclampsia and Eclampsia

Keywords

Reproduction, In vitro fertilization, Natural Frozen Embryo Transfer, Artificial Frozen Embryo Transfer, Preeclampsia

Brief summary

The goal of this\[ type of study: randomized controlled trial\]is to compare Preeclampsia following Natural vs. Artificial Cycle in patients undergoing frozen embryo transfer. The main question\[s\] it aims to answer is • Does NC-FET decreases the incidence of preeclampsia in patients undergoing frozen embryo transfer as compared to AC-FET ? The main objective is to compare the proportion of preeclampsia in women with a viable pregnancy with natural cycle protocol to artificial cycle protocol when practicing frozen embryo transfer. Participants recruited will be divided into two ARM(1513 per arm). ARM 1 will undergo the Natural Cycle procedure of Embryo transfer, and ARM 2 will undergo the Artificial Cycle procedure of Embryo transfer. The primary outcome will be the proportion of preeclampsia. The duration of the study is around 2 year.

Detailed description

The Research question(PICO) addressed is Does NC-FET decreases the incidence of preeclampsia in patients undergoing frozen embryo transfer as compared to AC-FET . The hypothesis taken is NC-FET will decrease the incidence of preeclampsia compared to AC-FET. The sample size is taken as 3026 (1513 per arm). The Primary Objective is to compare the proportion of preeclampsia in women with a viable pregnancy with natural cycle protocol to artificial cycle protocol when practicing frozen embryo transfer. The study outcome of the proportion of preeclampsia after 20 weeks of gestation or 6 weeks post-delivery. There are two arms-Arm 1 Active Comparator: Natural Cycle and Arm 2 control: Artificial Cycle FET. The Randomization is done through Random Allocation as per computer generated sequence. The Blinding/masking is done Open labeled. The Study Duration is from Feb 2023 to Jan 2025. Participation Duration is 10 months.

Interventions

PROCEDURENatural Cycle

The participant will be administered a S/C injection of 250mcg r-hCG to assist ovulation and timing of the embryo transfer, when the dominant follicle reaches ≥ 18mm and serum LH \< 20 IU/L, the administration of r-hCG will be in the evening, and the embryo transfer will be scheduled seven days later (window of ± two days). The participant will begin transvaginal progesterone gel (8 %) twice daily starting 36 hrs after the trigger until ten weeks of gestation.

Estrogen priming with oral estradiol valerate 6mg/day (2mg every 8 hours) starting from cycle D1-D5 after a first TVU. TVU will be performed 10-15 days after beginning estradiol until ET ≥ 7mm, maximum until 21 days. Patients will begin progesterone injection 100mg/day until blastocyst transfer. Frozen embryo transfer will be performed on day 6 +/- 2 days of progesterone administration. After embryo transfer, a supplementation with transvaginal progesterone gel (8 %) twice daily starting from the day of embryo transfer until ten weeks of gestation. Patients will continue Estradiol 2 mg thrice daily until 6 weeks of gestation; then dose tapering will be done to 2 mg twice daily until 9 wks of gestation. From 9th wk the estrogen dose will be tapered further to 2 mg once daily for 10 days before stopping.

Sponsors

Indira IVF Hospital Pvt Ltd
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Masking description

Parallel group open labelled masking

Intervention model description

Open labelled parallel group randomized Controlled Trial

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
21 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Endometrial preparation with Hormone replacement therapy/ Natural cycle. * Age 21-45 years following an autologous IVF cycle (with or without preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy) * BMI \> 18 and \< 30 kg/m2 * Endometrial thickness ≥ 7 mm after estrogen therapy or on the day of ovulation * Blastocyst embryo transfer

Exclusion criteria

* Uterine diseases (e.g. submucosal fibroids, polyps, previously diagnosed Müllerian abnormalities) * Hydrosalpinx untreated. * Recurrent pregnancy loss (≥ 3 previous miscarriages) * Recurrent implantation failure (≥ 3 previously failed embryo transfers of good-quality blastocysts) * Allergy to study medication * Pregnancy or lactation at recruitment * Contraindications for hormonal treatment

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
proportion of preeclampsiaafter the 20th week of gestation up to six weeks postpartumThe primary efficacy endpoint is the proportion of preeclampsia in women assigned to a natural cycle protocol compared to the proportion of preeclampsia in women assigned to an artificial cycle protocol.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Biochemical Pregnancy Rate6 weeks after Embryo TransferPregnancies diagnosed only by β-human chorionic gonadotropin detection without a gestational sac visualized by vaginal ultrasound at the 6th gestational week.
Implantation Rate4 weeks +2 weeks after ETThe number of gestational sacs observed by transvaginal ultrasound at the 6th gestational week per the number of embryos transferred.
Clinical Pregnancy Rate4 weeks +2 weeks after ETDetection of a foetal heartbeat on transvaginal ultrasound at the 6th gestational week per embryo transfer cycle.
Ongoing Pregnancy Rate12 weeks after embryo TransferPresence of gestational sacs with a heartbeat at the 12th gestational week per embryo transfer cycle.
Live Birth Rate28 weeks(+12 weeks) after embryo transferThe number of deliveries that resulted in at least one live birth per 100 Embryo transferred cycle.
Miscarriage RateWithin 20 weeks of gestationNumber of spontaneous pregnancy losses in which a gestational sac/s was previously observed (before 20th gestational weeks) per 100 clinical pregnancy.
Preterm birth< 37 weeksPreterm is defined as babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed
Extreme preterm birth20-28 weeksExtreme Preterm is defined as babies born alive before 28 weeks of pregnancy
Fetal growth restriction20-40 weeks of gestationFetal growth restriction (FGR) is most often defined as an estimated fetal weight less than the 10th percentile for gestational age by prenatal ultrasound evaluation
Fetal birthweightwithin 30 minutes of birthIs defined as the weight of baby just after birth
Premature detachment of normally inserted placenta12 weeks of GA till laborIt is defined as a premature separation of the placenta before delivery.
Maternal hypertensionAfter 20 weeks of GA till 6 weeks postpartumIt is defined as blood pressure more than 140/90 mm Hg detected first time after 20 weeks of gestation till 6 weeks of postpartum without proteinuria
EclampsiaAfter 20 weeks of GA till 6 weeks postpartumEclampsia is defined as the new onset of generalized tonic-clonic seizures in a woman with preeclampsia.
HELLP SyndromeAfter 20 weeks of GA till 6 weeks postpartumIt is defined as hemodialysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count
Maternal mortalityfrom start of pregnancy to 42 weeks of pregnancyMaternal death is defined as pregnancy or its management (excluding accidental or incidental causes) during pregnancy and childbirth or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy
Fetal death20 weeks of GA before deliveryFetal death refers to the spontaneous intrauterine death of a fetus after 20 weeks of GA before delivery
Frequency of adverse eventsthrough study completion, an average of 1 yearAn adverse event (AE) is any untoward medical occurrence in a patient.

Countries

India

Outcome results

None listed

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