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ExAblate Treatment of Uterine Fibroids for Fertility Enhancement

Not Applicable
Terminated
Conditions
Uterine Fibroids, With Unexplained Infertility
Interventions
Procedure: Myomectomy
Device: ExAblate 2000
Registration Number
NCT00730886
Lead Sponsor
InSightec
Brief Summary

The objective of this trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the ExAblate 2000 system for enhancement of fertility in women with non-hysteroscopically resectable uterine fibroids, who are diagnosed with unexplained infertility.

Uterine fibroids are fairly common in women of child-bearing age. An evidence based review supported removing fibroids that distort the uterine cavity to increase pregnancy rates and decrease the rates of miscarriage. Some fibroids can be removed hysteroscopically which is minimally invasive, with low morbidity. However, removal of fibroids within the uterine wall require more invasive surgical procedures (e.g., myomectomy), with increasing morbidity risks including, but not limited to, infection, blood loss and postoperative uterine adhesions.

ExAblate is approved by FDA for the treatment of uterine fibroids; however, its use in patients seeking pregnancy is considered experimental. Accumulated evidence suggests there are no significant complications from the procedure in women seeking pregnancy as with existing fibroid therapies; however, these data are based on a small number of patients. This study will evaluate fertility enhancement following ExAblate treatment or myomectomy, in women with unexplained infertility and who have non-hysteroscopically resectable uterine fibroids.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
2
Inclusion Criteria

Female Partner

  1. Able and willing to give consent
  2. Able to attend all study visits.
  3. At least one fibroid 3.0 cm or larger which is type 2 submucosal or intramural touching or abutting the cavity.
  4. Able to communicate sensations during the ExAblate procedure.
  5. Uterine fibroids, which are device accessible
  6. Fibroids(s) clearly visible on non-contrast MRI. and with uniform enhancement with gadolinium
  7. Age 21 to 40 (patients cannot be treated following their 41st birthday)
  8. Patients with uterine cavitary distortion based on MRI images or ultrasound.
  9. Premenopausal status
  10. Normal pap smear and/or HPV testing within institutional guidelines
  11. At least one ovary and at least one ipsilateral patent fallopian tube confirmed b hysterosalpingogram or laparoscopy.
  12. Normal serum follicle-stimulating hormone and thyrotropin values on days 1-5 of the cycle
  13. Length of 2 of the 3 most recent menstrual cycles between 24 and 35 days.
  14. History of trying for pregnancy for at least 6 months
  15. Documentation of ovulation using urine LH testing, serum LH testing, serum progesterone > 4 ng/dl or endometrial biopsy showing secretory endometrium in a cycle between 24 and 35 days
  16. Patient needs to demonstrate that she has already undergone testing and counseling in a fertility clinic or other medical office.

Male partner inclusion criteria

  1. Age of male partner < 55
  2. At least 10 million total mobile sperm on semen analysis within last 6 months
  3. Use of donor sperm which includes at least 10 million total mobile sperm, for female candidates who otherwise meet eligibility criteria (e.g., single women, etc)
Exclusion Criteria
  1. Uterine size > 16 weeks
  2. Prior surgical intervention for fibroids (including UAE) except uncomplicated myomectomy (hysteroscopic, laparoscopic or abdominal) and MRgFUS.
  3. Prior use of in vitro fertilization or other assisted reproductive technology
  4. Previous treatment with gonadotropins or intrauterine inseminations
  5. History of tubal surgery
  6. History of oophorectomy
  7. History of chemotherapy or radiation to the abdomen or pelvis
  8. MRI showing only adenomyosis
  9. Metallic implants that are incompatible with MRI
  10. Severe claustrophobia that would prevent completion of procedure in MR unit
  11. Patients with a BMI greater than 38.
  12. Known intolerance to the MRI contrast agent (e.g. Gadolinium or Magnevist) including severe kidney disease
  13. Individuals who are not able or willing to tolerate the required prolonged stationary prone position during treatment (approximately 3 hrs.)
  14. Active pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
  15. Active local or systemic infection
  16. Known or suspected pelvic carcinoma or pre-malignant conditions, including sarcoma and adenomatous hyperplasia
  17. Dermoid cyst of the ovary anywhere in the treatment path
  18. Extensive abdominal scarring that cannot be avoided by redirection of the beam (e.g., due to Caesarean section or repeated abdominal surgeries)
  19. Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding
  20. Patients having a contraindication to pregnancy.
  21. Patients having a contraindication to surgery, including surgical myomectomy
  22. Patients with type 0 submucosal fibroids.
  23. More than 4 clinically significant fibroids >2cm in mean diameters
  24. Patients on dialysis.
  25. Hematocrit < 25
  26. Hemolytic anemia
  27. Patients with unstable cardiac status including:
  28. Unstable angina pectoris on medication
  29. Patients with documented myocardial infarction within six months of protocol entry
  30. Congestive heart failure requiring medication (other than diuretic)
  31. Patients on anti-arrhythmic drugs
  32. Severe hypertension (diastolic BP > 100 on medication)
  33. Patients with cardiac pacemakers
  34. Patients planning to use adjuvant therapies post (ExAblate or Myomectomy) procedures to improve the chance of conception within 9 months of study treatment will be excluded from study (note: candidates relying on donor sperm and artificial insemination to conceive between months 3 and 9 post-treatment are allowed to participate, provided they meet all eligibility criteria)
  35. Patients without uterine cavity distortion.

Male partner exclusion criteria

  1. Prior use of in vitro fertilization of other assisted reproductive technology
  2. Previous treatment intrauterine inseminations
  3. History of chemotherapy or radiation to the abdomen or pelvis
  4. History of vasovasectomy
  5. History of varicocelectomy
  6. History of pelvic-node dissection
  7. Use of calcium-channel blocking medications

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
2MyomectomyInvasive surgical procedure for fertility enhancement (i.e., myomectomy)
1ExAblate 2000Non-invasive procedure for fertility enhancement (i.e., ExAblate treatment)
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Live Birth RateBetween the 3 and 9-month post-treatment visits
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Pregnancy RateBetween the 3 and 15-month post-treatment visits
Term Delivery RateBetween the 3 and 15-month post-treatment visits
Miscarriage RateBetween the 3 and 15-month post-treatment visits
Time to ConceptionPost-treatment
C-Section RatePost-treatment
Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (UFS-QOL)Post-treatment
Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)Post-treatment
Health Care CostsPost-treatment
Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form SurveyPost-treatment

Trial Locations

Locations (6)

Willowbend Health and Wellness

🇺🇸

Plano, Texas, United States

UCLA

🇺🇸

Los Angeles, California, United States

Atlanta Interventional Institute

🇺🇸

Smyrna, Georgia, United States

University of Virginia Health System

🇺🇸

Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

Mayo Clinic

🇺🇸

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Duke University

🇺🇸

Durham, North Carolina, United States

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