Conventionally, ICSI was initially developed and has been shown to be an effective treatment for male factor infertility. It is increasingly being used for patients without a male factor diagnosis, despite the lack of clinical evidence to support its use. Moreover, ICSI is an invasive and expensive procedure. This multi-center, randomized, controlled, parallel-group trial will be conducted to compare the effectiveness of ICSI versus conventional IVF in infertile couples scheduled for IVF treatment, in whom the male partner has normal sperm.
All patients undergoing IVF/ICSI will be treated with a GnRH antagonist protocol. Recombinant FSH (Puregon, MSD) will be given on day 2 or day 3 of menstrual cycle for 5 days. The starting dose is individualized for each patient based on the following criteria: AMH \<0.7 ng/mL, dose 300 IU/day; AMH 0.7-2.1 ng/mL, dose 200 IU/day; AMH \>2.1 ng/mL, dose 150 IU/day. After that, investigators can titrate the dose based on their clinical judgment. Follicular development will be monitored by ultrasound scanning and measurement of estradiol and progesterone levels, starting on day 5 of stimulation. Scanning and hormonal measurement will be repeated every 2 to 3 days, depending on the size of follicles. An antagonist is routinely used on day 5 until the day of triggering. Criteria for triggering, by hCG (Ovitrelle 250 mg, Merck, Germany) will be the presence of at least three leading follicles of 17 mm. In women with excessive follicular response (≥15 follicles ≥12 mm), 0,2 mg Triptorelin (Diphereline, Ipsen Beaufour, France) will be used when there are at least two leading follicles of 17 mm. Oocyte retrieval will be performed 36 hours after triggering. Randomization and allocation of participants to study groups will be performed on the day of egg pick up, after having obtained the semen from the husband. Eligible participants that have provided informed consent will be randomised to either ICSI or conventional IVF. In ICSI group, insemination will be performed by using ICSI, 3 - 4 hours after oocyte retrieval. OCCs will be stripped by using hyaluronidase. Only matured oocytes will be inseminated. In conventional IVF group, insemination will be performed by conventional IVF. Two hours after retrieval, collected OCCs will be inseminated for another 2 hours, at a concentration of 100,000 motile sperm/ml. Inseminated OCCs will be cultured overnight in culture medium. In both groups, fertilization check will be performed under inverted microscope at period of 16-18 hours after insemination. On day 3, embryo evaluation will be performed at fixed time point 66±2 hours after fertilization, using the Istanbul consensus. Embryo transfer will be performed on day 3 under ultrasound guidance. A maximum of 2 embryos will be transferred into the uterus. The remaining grade 1 and 2 embryos will be frozen. Luteal-phase support will be done with estradiol (Valiera 2mg) 8mg/day and vaginal progesterone 800mg/day (Cyclogest 400mg) until 7th week of gestation. If there are contra-indications for fresh embryo transfer, a freeze-all strategy will be applied, using Cryotech technique. Indications for freeze-all include: risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), premature progesterone rise (≥1.5 ng/ml), thin endometrium (\<7 mm), fluid in cavity on day of embryo transfer, endometrial polyp, hydrosalpinx that have not removed before oocyte retrieval. In the next cycle, endometrium will be prepared by using estradiol (Valiera 2 mg, 8 mg/day) orally, starting from day 2-3 of menstrual cycle. When the endometrium thickness reaches 8 mm or more, patients will start using progesterone vaginally (Cyclogest 400 mg, 800 mg/day). Embryo transfer will be performed 3 days after using progesterone. On the day of embryo transfer, embryos will be thawed. In the frozen/thawed cycle, the best embryos will be utilized first, as in fresh transfer. Two hours after thawing, a maximum of 2 surviving embryos will be transferred into the uterus under ultrasound guidance. Luteal phase support will be provided with estradiol (Valiera 2mg) 8mg/day and vaginal progesterone 800 mg/day (Cyclogest 400 mg) until the seventh week of gestation. In both groups, clinicians who perform embryo transfer, either fresh or frozen cycles, will be blinded to the intervention. A serum hCG will be measured 2 weeks after embryo transferred, and if positive, an ultrasound scan of the uterus will be performed at gestational weeks 7 and 12. At 11 - 12 weeks of gestation, participants will be referred to the Outpatient clininc, O\&G Department, My Duc hospital or An Sinh hospital for prenatal care until giving birth.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
1,064
In ICSI group, insemination will be performed by using ICSI, 3 - 4 hours after oocyte retrieval. OCCs will be stripped by using hyaluronidase. Only matured oocytes will be inseminated.
In IVF group, insemination will be performed by conventional IVF. Two hours after retrieval, collected OCCs will be inseminated for another 2 hours, at a concentration of 100,000 motile sperm/ml. Inseminated OCCs will be cultured overnight in culture medium.
Dang Q Vinh
Hochiminh City, Vietnam
Ongoing pregnancy resulting in live birth after the first embryo transfer of the started treatment cycle.
Live birth is defined as the birth of at least one newborn after 24 weeks' gestation that exhibits any sign of life (twin will be a single count). For the timing of this occur, ongoing pregnancy will be used, conditional on the fact that this ongoing pregnancy results in live birth.
Time frame: At 12 weeks of gestation
Fertilization rate per oocyte inseminated/injected
Fertilization is defined as the appearance of 2 PN
Time frame: At 16-18 hours after injected or 17-19 hours after inseminated
Fertilization rate per oocyte retrieved
Fertilization is defined as the appearance of 2 PN
Time frame: At 16-18 hours after injected or 17-19 hours after inseminated
Abnormal fertilization rate
Abnormal fertilization is defined as the appearance of 1PN or ≥3 PN
Time frame: At 16-18 hours after injected or 17-19 hours after inseminated
Total fertilization failure rate
Total fertilization is defined as the absence of any zygotes with 2PN
Time frame: At 16-18 hours after injected or 17-19 hours after inseminated
Number of embryos on day 3
Number of embryos on day 3
Time frame: 3 days after oocytes pick-up day in IVF/ICSI
Number of good quality embryo on day 3
Numbers of embryos on day 3 with good quality
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: 3 days after oocytes pick-up day in IVF/ICSI
Number of embryo freezing on day 3
Number of embryos freezing on day 3
Time frame: 3 days after oocytes pick-up day in IVF/ICSI
Positive pregnancy test
Positive pregnancy test is defined as a serum human chorionic gonadotropin level greater than 25 mIU/mL after the completion of the first transfer
Time frame: 14 days after embryo transfer
Clinical pregnancy
Clinical pregnancy is defined as the presence of at least one gestational sac on ultrasound at 7 weeks' gestation with the detection of heart beat activity, after the completion of the first transfer
Time frame: At 7 weeks' gestation
Implantation rate
Implantation rate is defined as the number of gestational sacs per number of embryos transferred after the completion of the first transfer
Time frame: At 3 weeks after embryo transferred
Ongoing pregnancy
Ongoing pregnancy is defined as pregnancy with detectable heart rate at 12 weeks' gestation or beyond, after the completion of the first transfer
Time frame: At 12 weeks' gestation
Cumulative ongoing pregnancy
Ongoing pregnancy is defined as pregnancy with detectable heart rate at 12 weeks' gestation or beyond, after transfer of all embryos from the started treatment cycle.
Time frame: At 12 weeks' gestation at 12 months after randomization. After 12 months, most patients doing IVF have finished all their frozen embryos; therefore, we consider this time point for analyzing the cumulative ongoing pregnancy rate.
Ongoing pregnancy resulting in live birth obtained from all embryos from the first started treatment cycle
Live birth is defined as the birth of at least one newborn after 24 weeks' gestation that exhibits any sign of life (twin will be a single count).
Time frame: 12 weeks of gestation at 12 months after randomization
Time from randomization to ongoing pregnancy
Time from randomization to ongoing pregnancy after the completion of the first transfer
Time frame: 12 weeks of gestation after the completion of first transfer
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
Symptoms of OHSS
Time frame: At 10 days after hCG injection and 14 days after embryo transfer
Ectopic pregnancy
A pregnancy in which implantation takes place outside the uterine cavity after completion of the first transfer
Time frame: At 12 weeks of gestation after the completion of the first transfer
Ectopic pregnancy
A pregnancy in which implantation takes place outside the uterine cavity after transfer of all embryos from the started treatment cycle.
Time frame: At 12 weeks of gestation at 12 months after randomization.
Miscarriage
The loss of a clinical pregnancy at 24 weeks of gestation after the completion of the first transfer
Time frame: At 24 weeks of gestation after the completion of the first transfer
Miscarriage
The loss of a clinical pregnancy at 24 weeks of gestation after the completion transfer of all embryos from the started treatment cycle
Time frame: At 24 weeks of gestation at 12 months after the randomization.
Multiple pregnancy
Multiple pregnancy is explained as two or more gestational sacs or positive heart beats by transvaginal sonography, after the completion of the first transfer
Time frame: 7 weeks' gestation after the completion of the first transfer
Multiple pregnancy
Multiple pregnancy is explained as two or more gestational sacs or positive heart beats by transvaginal sonography, after the completion transfer of all embryos from the started treatment cycle
Time frame: 7 weeks' gestation at 12 months after randomization
Multiple delivery
Multiple delivery is defined as birth of more than one baby beyond 24 weeks, after the completion of the first transfer
Time frame: At birth, after the completion of the first transfer
Multiple delivery
Multiple delivery is defined as birth of more than one baby beyond 24 weeks, after the completion transfer of all embryos from the started treatment cycle
Time frame: At birth at 12 months after randomization
Gestational diabetes mellitus
Development of diabetes during pregnancy
Time frame: At 24 weeks of gestation after the completion of the first transfer
Gestational diabetes mellitus
Development of diabetes during pregnancy
Time frame: At 24 weeks of gestation at 12 months after randomization
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy will include pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH); pre-eclampsia (PET) and eclampsia)
Time frame: From 20 weeks of gestation up to at birth after the completion of the first transfer
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy will include pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH); pre-eclampsia (PET) and eclampsia)
Time frame: From 20 weeks of gestation up to at birth at 12 months after randomization
Antepartum haemorrhage
Including placenta previa, placenta accreta and unexplained
Time frame: From 20 weeks of gestation up to at birth, after the completion of the first transfer
Antepartum haemorrhage
Including placenta previa, placenta accreta and unexplained
Time frame: From 20 weeks of gestation up to at birth, at 12 months after randomization
Gestational age at delivery
Gestational age at delivery
Time frame: At birth, after the completion of the first transfer
Gestational age at delivery
Gestational age at delivery
Time frame: At birth, at 12 months after randomization
Preterm delivery
Preterm delivery is defined as any delivery at \<24, \<28, \<32, \<37 completed weeks' gestation
Time frame: At birth, after the completion of the first transfer
Preterm delivery
Preterm delivery is defined as any delivery at \<24, \<28, \<32, \<37 completed weeks' gestation
Time frame: At birth, at 12 months after randomization
Spontaneous preterm birth
Spontaneous preterm birth is defined as delivery spontaneously at \<24, \<28, \<32, \<37 completed weeks
Time frame: At birth, after the completion of the first transfer
Spontaneous preterm birth
Spontaneous preterm birth is defined as delivery spontaneously at \<24, \<28, \<32, \<37 completed weeks
Time frame: At birth, at 12 months after randomization
Iatrogenic preterm birth
Iatrogenic preterm birth is defined as delivery non-spontaneously at \<24, \<28, \<32, \<37 completed weeks
Time frame: At birth, after the completion of the first transfer
Iatrogenic preterm birth
Iatrogenic preterm birth is defined as delivery non-spontaneously at \<24, \<28, \<32, \<37 completed weeks
Time frame: At birth, at 12 months after randomization
Birth weight
Weight of newborn
Time frame: At birth, after the completion of the first transfer
Birth weight
Weight of newborn
Time frame: At birth, at 12 months after randomization
Low birth weight
Low birth weight is defined as \<2500 gm
Time frame: At birth, after the completion of the first transfer
Low birth weight
Low birth weight is defined as \<2500 gm
Time frame: At birth, at 12 months after randomization
Very low birth weight
Very low birth weight is defined as \<1500 gm
Time frame: At birth, after the completion of the first transfer
Very low birth weight
Very low birth weight is defined as \<1500 gm
Time frame: At birth, at 12 months after randomization
High birth weight
High birth weight is defined as \>4000 gm
Time frame: At birth, after the completion of the first transfer
High birth weight
High birth weight is defined as \>4000 gm
Time frame: At birth, at 12 months after randomization
Very high birth weight
Very high birth weight is defined as \>4500 gm
Time frame: At birth, after the completion of the first transfer
Very high birth weight
Very high birth weight is defined as \>4500 gm
Time frame: At birth, at 12 months after randomization
Large for gestational age
Large for gestational age is defined as birth weight \>90th percentile
Time frame: At birth, after the completion of the first transfer
Large for gestational age
Large for gestational age is defined as birth weight \>90th percentile
Time frame: At birth, at 12 months after randomization
Small for gestational age
Small for gestational age is defined as birth weight \<10th percentile
Time frame: At birth, after the completion of the first transfer
Small for gestational age
Small for gestational age is defined as birth weight \<10th percentile
Time frame: At birth, at 12 months after randomization
Congenital anomaly diagnosed at birth
Any congenital anomaly will be included
Time frame: At birth, after the completion of the first transfer
Congenital anomaly diagnosed at birth
Any congenital anomaly will be included
Time frame: At birth, at 12 months after randomization
Admission to NICU
The admittance of the newborn to NICU
Time frame: 7 days after delivery after the completion of the first transfer
Admission to NICU
The admittance of the newborn to NICU
Time frame: 7 days after delivery, at 12 months after randomization
Genetic and epigenetic analysis of newborn
Maternal whole blood; newborn's materials including cord blood, neonatal buccal smear, and placental tissue will be collected. Data will be collected for a supplementary analysis and will be reported in a separated paper.
Time frame: 1 day (Prior to the initiation of IVF/IVM) and 1 day ( at the time of delivery)
Cost-effectiveness
Including direct and indirect costs; costs related to complications treatment. Cost data will be collected for a supplementary analysis and will be reported in a separated paper.
Time frame: Two year after randomization