Utility of Fallopian Tube Cocultures in Assisted Reproductive Technology

Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM)

Status: Withdrawn

Conditions: Infertility

Treatments: Procedure: Laparoscopic Surgery (Biopsies of fallopian tube lumen) using a laparoscopic brush/biopsy device

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02341339

WeillMC

Details and patient eligibility

About

Prospective Feasibility Study:

Fallopian tube cells will be obtained from patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery during their surgical evaluation of infertility. Of note, these patients are already scheduled to undergo surgery as part of their standard of care.

Full description

The surgical technique will involve laparoscopic brush and tissue biopsies of the fallopian tube lumen. A small piece of the fallopian tube lining will be removed during the surgery.The biopsy is a minimally invasive and relatively pain free procedure. Co culture blood serum will be drawn at least one day prior to the biopsy and during the IVF cycle. The fallopian tube sample is sent to the Center for Reproductive Medicine (CRM) lab where it is treated, purified and frozen. The next month or whenever the physician deems appropriate, the patient will then undergo a typical IVF cycle and will be given standard medication protocol determined by her physician to stimulate egg growth in her ovaries. The patient's eggs will be retrieved and mixed with sperm. At this time, the lab will begin to thaw and grow the fallopian tube cells. Once fertilization is confirmed, the patient's embryos will be placed on top of her own (now thawed) fallopian tube cells and allowed to grow. Subsequently, the embryos will be placed on top of her uterus for implantation and pregnancy.

Sex: Female

Ages: 25 to 40 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Women undergoing assisted reproductive technology at Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC) and are scheduled to undergo surgery as part of their standard of care
• Women who had a prior failed IVF cycle
• Women with normal Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) or a prior laparoscopy confirming normal tubal status
• Both the patient (potential subject) and her partner must sign the consent form

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy
• Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding
• Fallopian tube disease

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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0 participants in 1 patient group

Fallopian Tube Co-culture

Experimental group

Description:

fallopian tube biopsy for co-culture of embryos

Treatment:

Procedure: Laparoscopic Surgery (Biopsies of fallopian tube lumen) using a laparoscopic brush/biopsy device