HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) Priming for Thin Endometrium in IVF (in Vitro Fertilization)

Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 4

Conditions: Endometrial Thickness; Pregnancy Outcome

Treatments: Drug: HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01768247

THINENDOM001

Details and patient eligibility

About

A thin endometrium is one of the most difficult problems encountered in assisted reproduction every day practice Regarding the proliferative phase, several ways of treatment have been undertaken to circumvent thin endometrium trying to increase thickness with questionable results.

The objective of the current study will be whether a daily dose of 150 IU (international units) of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) for seven days concomitant with estrogen administration in estrogen replacement cycles can increase the endometrial thickness and improve pregnancy outcome.

Full description

In this pilot study subjects with repeatedly resistant thin endometrium, less than 6mm, will be recruited. The investigators sought to investigate the possible role of adding low dose HCG in the follicular phase, on the endometrial growth and development. The investigators constructed this hypothesis based on the fact that LH/HCG (luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin) receptor is present in endometrium and therefore a positive interaction could be anticipated when HCG is administered in the proliferative phase of endometrial growth. Furthermore, in a previous study, where human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) -well known that renders its luteinizing hormone (LH) capacity due to low dose HCG contain- was compared to recombinant-follicular stimulating hormone (rec-FSH) during ovarian stimulation, endometrium was more likely to be iso-echogenic and hypo-echogenic in the hMG group, also anticipating a possible positive role of HCG activity.

Enrollment: 15 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 30 to 50 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• (1) Less than 6mm endometrial thickness before, (2) at least two failed implantations before

Exclusion criteria

• Abnormal uterine cavity in Hysteroscopy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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15 participants in 1 patient group

HCG priming

Experimental group

Description:

Patients in this arm after 7-9 days of estrogen replacement they will receive a 150 international units (IU) HCG every day for 7 days concomitantly with the estradiol

Treatment:

Drug: HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)