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PICSI Impact on Euploidy in Assisted Reproduction

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Infertility
Interventions
Device: PICSI
Registration Number
NCT06602687
Lead Sponsor
Merrion Fertility Clinic
Brief Summary

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a major component of the cumulus complex surrounding oocytes. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) involves injection of a selected sperm into the oocyte. Embryologists select sperm with normal morphology and progressive motility. Physiologic intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PICSI) involves sperm selection for ICSI based on hyaluronan binding. Mature sperm which bind to HA have greater genomic integrity and reduced levels of DNA fragmentation. Earlier observational studies demonstrated improved outcomes in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) including improved clinical pregnancy rates, decreased miscarriage rates and higher live birth rates. A large multicentre randomized trial, the HABSelect trial, which included over 2,500 couples, found that PICSI did not improve term (\>37 weeks gestation) live birth rates compared to standard ICSI. However, mechanistic analysis of the data from the HABSelect trial showed a significant reduction in miscarriage rates, most notable in couples where the woman was aged over 37 years where a significant reduction in miscarriage rate was seen (40% with ICSI vs 15% with PICSI). A 2021 retrospective sibling oocyte study, including 45 cycles, compared fertilisation and embryo development and found higher fertilisation rate in PICSI cycles. No difference was observed in clinical pregnancy rates; miscarriage rates and live birth rates were not reported. We aim to prospectively study PICSI vs standard ICSI in sibling oocytes to investigate if PICSI improves embryological and ART outcomes, particularly fertilisation rate, embryo euploid status and miscarriage rate, where the female patient is aged over 35 years.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
142
Inclusion Criteria
  • Couples undergoing a planned ICSI-PGT-A cycle using their own fresh gametes
  • Female age > 35 years and/or Male age > 40 years
  • Minimum of two mature eggs at time of egg maturity assessment
Exclusion Criteria
  • Couples undergoing a planned IVF cycle (even if converted to ICSI)
  • Patients using donor gametes for an ICSI cycle
  • Patients using frozen gametes for an ICSI cycle

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
PICSIPICSIICSI performed using sperm selected based on hyaluronan binding (PICSI® dish, Cooper Surgical).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Euploidy rates4 weeks

Primary outcome is rate of euploid embryos per cycle after preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Fertilisation rates24-48 hours

Defined as number of 2PNs per oocyte injected

Blastocyst development and rate5 and 6 days

Assessed on day 5 and day 6 according to Gardner grading system.

Positive hCG rate6-7 weeks

Defined as detection of urinary human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) per embryo transfer cycles.

Clinical pregnancy rate6-7 weeks

Defined as number of fetal heartbeats/ gestational sacs identified by ultrasonographic visualisation at 6-7 weeks gestation per cycles started, oocyte retrievals or embryo transfer cycles.

Miscarriage rateup to 22 weeks

Defined as number of spontaneous losses of an intra-uterine pregnancy prior to 22 completed weeks of gestational age per embryo transfer cycles.

Live birth rate37-42 weeks

Defined as number of live births at ≥37 weeks gestation per embryo transfer cycles

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Merrion Fertility Clinic

🇮🇪

Dublin, Ireland

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