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The EPIC Study: Exploring Paternal Age and the Influence on Blastocyst Culture

The EPIC Study: Exploring Paternal Age and the Influence on Blastocyst Culture

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06629766
Acronym
EPIC
Enrollment
100
Registered
2024-10-08
Start date
2025-04-09
Completion date
2028-12-01
Last updated
2026-06-03

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

Conditions

Infertility (IVF Patients), Oocyte Competence, Paternal Age, Sperm DNA Fragmentation, Sperm Selection

Keywords

microfluidic, density grade centrifugation, sperm selection, paternal age, sperm DNA fragmentation, Zymot

Brief summary

This study aims to assess the effect of age of the male partner and the reproductive ability of sperm prepared via sperm selection devices (Zymot) compared to routine embryologist selected sperm after density gradient centrifugation (DGC) preparation for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment (IVF) of their infertility.

Detailed description

In this study, we aim to determine the clinical utility of the Zymot sperm selection methodology for ICSI, while also accounting for paternal age. This study will be a prospective, split cohort, randomized, control trial comparing the routine standard of DGC sperm preparation for ICSI versus sperm prepared via Zymot for ICSI. Embryology parameters, ploidy status, DNA fragmentation and clinical pregnancy outcomes will be assessed.

Interventions

DEVICEMicrofluidic sperm separation device

An aliquot of 850ul will be used for the Zymot sperm selection device. The sperm processing via Zymot will be per manufacturer's guidelines

OTHERDensity grade centrifugation

5ul of the ejaculated sample will be assessed for DGC via Makler assessment. If the sample for DGC is adequate per lab standard operating procedures, then routine DGC sperm preparation and embryologist sperm selection for the ICSI procedure will occur.

Sponsors

Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

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

Masking description

Statistician

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 41 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Undergoing first IVF cycle * Electing single embryo transfer * Electing PGT-A of their embryos * Female partners age \<42 years old at start of VOR cycle, but \>18 years old. * AMH ≥ 1.2 ng/mL * AFC ≥ 8 * FSH ≤ 12IU/L * At least 4 mature oocytes (M2s) retrieved at the VOR procedure in order to randomize * Intention to transfer the morphological best quality, euploid, embryo at the frozen embryo transfer procedure

Exclusion criteria

* Contraindication to IVF * Clinical indication for preimplantation genetic testing (i.e., screening for single gene disorder, chromosomal translocation, or any other disorders requiring a more detailed embryo genetic analysis) * Male partner with azoospermia or oligozoospermia (\<500,000 total motile spermatozoa on the most recent semen analysis within one year of enrollment) * Planned for previously cryopreserved sperm to be used for ICSI * Donor sperm * Male partner with Y-chromosome microdeletion * Male partner with any Karyotype other than 46,XY * Male partner requiring surgically obtained sperm either via testicular or epididymal retrieval procedures * Uncorrected hydrosalpinges that communicate with the endometrial cavity * Endometrial Insufficiency, as defined by a prior cycle with maximal endometrial thickness \<6mm,), or persistent endometrial fluid * Donor oocyte or embryo cycles * Gestational carriers

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Blastulation Rate per Mature Oocyte (M2)approximately 1 week post oocyte retrieval procedurecount of blastocyst stage embryos per M2 count

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Fertilization Rateapproximately 24 hours post oocyte retrieval procedurecount of fertilized zygotes (2 pronuclei (2PN)) per M2 count
Blastulation Rate per 2PNapproximately 1 week post oocyte retrieval procedurecount of blastocyst stage embryos per 2PN
Blastocyst Morphology using Modified Gardner Scaleapproximately 1 week post oocyte retrieval procedureMorphology Grade at time of trophectoderm biopsy and vitrification. Expansion 1-6. Inner cell mass and trophectoderm graded A-D.
Ploidy ratesapproximately 2 weeks post blastocyst trophectoderm biopsyRates of whole chromosome negative and positive preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) results per blastocyst
Ongoing pregnancy rate6 weeks post embryo transferrate of ongoing pregnancy at 8-9 weeks gestational age when discharged to obstetrician
Pregnancy Loss Rates1 day to 7 months post positive beta human chorionic gonadotrophina loss of pregnancy (either biochemical or clinical)
Live birth rateapproximately 7 months after discharge to obstetricianrate of live born infants
Sperm DNA Fragmentationapproximately 1-3 hours post intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedureSperm DNA Fragmentation will be run on remnant samples
Positive beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (bhcg)7-10 days post embryo transferpositive pregnancy test with bhcg \>5mUI/mL
Embryological Efficiencysame day as ICSI procedureSperm prep time (Time from embryologist possession of sample to completion of prep procedure and ICSI start), benchtop time, ICSI procedural time
Embryology Questionnaireupon primary outcome completion in approximately 18 monthsGain perspectives from lab personnel related to likeability, ease of use and efficiency between the two devices

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTCaroline Clinical Research Nurse, BSN, RN
clinicalresearchteam@ivirma.com973-656-2841
CONTACTChristine Director of Research Operations, MS, BSN, RN
clinicalresearchteam@ivirma.com973-656-2841
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORKassie Bollig, MD, MSCE

Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey

Outcome results

None listed

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