Endometrial Effects of Sildenafil in Frozen-Thawed Cycles in Women With Thin Endometrium

Sponsor
Cairo University (Other)
Overall Status
Not yet recruiting
CT.gov ID
NCT04283435
Collaborator
(none)
100
1
2
5.9
16.8

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Management of Thin endometrium in IVF is challenging. Thin endometrium is often defined as <7 mm or < 8 mm on the day of Human Gonadotropin administration(Bu and Sun, 2015; Wu et al., 2014).

Its incidence is 1-2.5% in most studies ( AlGhamdi et al.,2008).

Endometrial thickness and endometrial vascularity is closely linked to endometrial receptivity.Improving endometrial receptivity is a predictor of the success in IVF.

Many medications have been tried to improve endometrial thickness as Aspirin,sildenafil citrate,luteal estradiol and Granulocyte colony stimulating factor.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a key signaling molecule involved in the vasodilator response of smooth muscle cells. NO activates the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)/protein kinase G (PKG) pathway within smooth muscle cells to promote smooth muscle cell relaxation. Sildenafil citrate inhibits phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) maintaining activation of cGMP and PKG and maximizing the effect of existing NO, thus facilitating smooth muscle cell relaxation. The potent vasodilator action of sildenafil has led researchers to evaluate sildenafil as a treatment in assisted reproduction where low uterine blood flow is perceived to be a contributor to implantation failure (Fairouzabadi et al.2013).

The investigators aim at this study to investigate the role of sildenafil citrate on endometrial and subendometrial vasculature in women with thin endometrium undergoing Frozen-Thawed IVF cycles.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Drug: Sildenafil Citrate
  • Other: Placebo
  • Drug: Estradiol Valerate
Phase 1

Detailed Description

This is a Randomised-controlled trial .The investigators recruited 100 women who are known to have thin endometrium in previous IVF cycles (failed/cancelled cycles).

They are randomised into group A (50 women) : preparation of the endometrium with Estradiol valerate 2mg/day (every 8 hours)(white tablets of cycloprogenova,Payer,Germany) from the first day of the cycle till 12th day and The investigators add placebo from the first day of the cycle till the day of starting progesterone (It will be stopped 3 days before embryo transfer).Group B (50 women): The investigators add Sildenafil citrate (Viagra,pfizer,United states) to the estradiol valerate. Sildenafil 50 mg will be used daily from the first day of the cycle till the day of starting progesterone (It will be stopped 3 days before embryo transfer). The embryos will be transferred depending on their age on day 3 or day 5.

At the transfer date ,the investigators will assess the endometrial thickness, endometrial volume, uterine artery doppler indices (RI,PI) as well as 3D endometrial vascular indices (VI,FI,VFI) .

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Anticipated Enrollment :
100 participants
Allocation:
Randomized
Intervention Model:
Parallel Assignment
Masking:
Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking Description:
One hundred envelopes will be numbered serially and in each envelope the corresponding letter which denotes the allocated group will be put according to randomization table. When the first patient arrives, the first envelope will be opened and the patient will be allocated according to the letter inside.
Primary Purpose:
Treatment
Official Title:
Effect of Sildenafil on Uterine and Endometrial Vasculature in Women With Thin Endometrium Having Frozen-Thawed IVF Cycles
Anticipated Study Start Date :
Sep 1, 2021
Anticipated Primary Completion Date :
Mar 1, 2022
Anticipated Study Completion Date :
Mar 1, 2022

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Placebo Comparator: estradiol valerate + placebo

preparation of the endometrium with Estradiol valerate 2mg/day (every 8 hours)(white tablets of cycloprogenova) .from the first day of the cycle till 12th day and we add placebo from the first day of the cycle till the day of start progesterone (we stop 3 days before embryo transfer).

Other: Placebo
Placebo tablet (multivitamins),Pregnacare vitamins (Vitabiotics,UK)
Other Names:
  • Pregnacare vitamins (Vitabiotics,UK)
  • Drug: Estradiol Valerate
    Estradiol valerate tablets 2mg every 8 hours daily starting from the fist day of the cycle till 12th day of the menstrual cycle.

    Experimental: estradiol valerate + Sildenafil citrate

    We add Sildenfil citrate 50 mg daily from the first day of the period till the day of starting the progesterone. and stop 3 days before the embryo transfer.

    Drug: Sildenafil Citrate
    Sildenafil Citrate 50 mg tablets taken from the first day of the cycle till the day we start progesterone (we stop 3 days before embryo transfer)

    Drug: Estradiol Valerate
    Estradiol valerate tablets 2mg every 8 hours daily starting from the fist day of the cycle till 12th day of the menstrual cycle.

    Outcome Measures

    Primary Outcome Measures

    1. Clinical Pregnancy rate [2 weeks after embryo transfer]

    Secondary Outcome Measures

    1. endometrial thickness [at the time of embryo transfer]

    2. Endometrial volume [at the time of embryo transfer]

    3. Uterine artery doppler indices [at the time of embryo transfer]

    4. 3D endometrial and subendometrial vascular indices(VI,FI.VFI) [at the time of embryo transfer]

    Eligibility Criteria

    Criteria

    Ages Eligible for Study:
    25 Years to 40 Years
    Sexes Eligible for Study:
    Female
    Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
    No
    Inclusion Criteria:
    • Women (25 -40 years) undergoing IVF frozen-Thawed cycles and known to have good quality embryos.

    • previous thin endometrium (< 8mm on at least 3 previous cycles) with normal Hysteroscopy findings

    Exclusion Criteria:
    • women less than 25 years old or more than 40 years old.

    • abnormal hysteroscopic findings.

    • women with congenital uterine anomalies.

    • History of previous uterine surgery

    • Any contraindication to Sildenafil as Previous history of cardiac disease or stroke.

    Contacts and Locations

    Locations

    Site City State Country Postal Code
    1 Cairo University Cairo Egypt

    Sponsors and Collaborators

    • Cairo University

    Investigators

    None specified.

    Study Documents (Full-Text)

    None provided.

    More Information

    Publications

    None provided.
    Responsible Party:
    Eman Elkattan, Associate professor, Cairo University
    ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
    NCT04283435
    Other Study ID Numbers:
    • PROTOCOL 500
    First Posted:
    Feb 25, 2020
    Last Update Posted:
    Aug 20, 2021
    Last Verified:
    Aug 1, 2021
    Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
    No
    Plan to Share IPD:
    No
    Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
    No
    Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
    No
    Additional relevant MeSH terms:

    Study Results

    No Results Posted as of Aug 20, 2021