Natural versus HRT cycles in frozen embryo replacement treatment
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A randomised controlled trial of natural versus hormone replacement therapy cycles in frozen embryo replacement IVF: a pilot study
IRAS ID
9173
Sponsor organisation
Clinical Trials and Research Governance, University of Oxford
Eudract number
2009-009323-11
ISRCTN Number
NCT00843570
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Research summary
Frozen Embryo Replacement (FER) is a fertility treatment by which stored embryos from a fresh IVF treatment cycle are thawed and transferred into the uterus. Frozen embryos can be replaced either in the middle of a natural menstrual cycle (Natural FER) or in a cycle where the woman takes drugs to suppress her own hormones, and then takes Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to prepare her uterus for the transfer of embryos(HRT - FER). Both are widely used methods of fertility treatment. However, to date no well designed studies have been reported in which the two methods have been compared. This study aims to compare the two treatments in order to establish the best treatment protocol. The study design is a single centre open randomized controlled trial funded by the Oxford Fertility Unit. 100 women who are considering FER treatment at the Oxford Fertility Unit and are eligible for the study will be recruited. After giving their written consent they will be randomised to one of 2 groups: Natural FER and HRT FER. Patients in both groups will be asked to attend one initial visit, which is additional to patients not taking part in the study. Subsequent visits will depend on the treatment group but will not be additional for study participants. All visits requiring ultrasound will involve recording 3-D measurements, which increases the length of each visit by approximately 10 minutes. A patient satisfaction questionnaire would be completed at the end of the cycle. A urinary pregnancy test is performed at home 2 weeks following the embryo transfer visit. If this is positive then further visits to the unit are arranged to confirm the clinical pregnancy. Inclusion in the study would not increase the length of time of either treatment cycle. Follow up would extend to obtaining pregnancy outcome information.
REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
09/H0604/89
Date of REC Opinion
14 Oct 2009
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion