Speculum Insertion During Embryo Transfer

July 22, 2024 updated by: Yossi Mizrachi, Wolfson Medical Center

Lubricant Gel Versus Sterile Water for Speculum Insertion During Embryo Transfer: a Randomized Non-inferiority Clinical Trial

Lubrication gels are widely used in numerous gynecologic procedures in order to ease the insertion of speculum and visualize the cervix. It was shown that applying lubricating gels significantly decreases patient pain during vaginal speculum examination. While many fertility specialists use lubrication gels to insert the speculum during embryo transfer (ET), others are strongly reluctant to use gels due to concern that they might have a detrimental effect on embryos and ET success. Similar concern was prevalent regarding the use of lubrication gel during Pap-smear for detection of cervical dysplasia. However, several studies have shown that the use of small amount of water-soluble gel does not change cervical cytology. Lubrication gels might have deleterious effect on sperm motility. However, there wasn't any study examining the effect of lubricant gel on ET success.

The investigators hypothesize that using a lubrication gel will not reduce the live birth rate per transfer, but decrease patient pain during procedure.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

In vitro fertilization (IVF) involves a highly complex series of events leading to the creation of an embryo. The transfer of that embryo, the final step in the process, is seen as a critical moment at the culmination of this incredibly intricate process. The technique of the embryo transfer (ET) has undergone a slow evolution, but for many physicians, this step remains relatively consistent throughout years of practice. While the procedure itself is relatively short, physicians often have specific preferences for each of the steps involved, either supported by evidence, learned from mentors or guided by experience and individual success. As such, ET success rates are a statistic that generates significant pride among physicians and are often tracked by clinics as a quality control metric. Interestingly, there are significant outcome differences between physicians.

Numerous techniques and practices employed during ET have been studied. For some, the evidence is robust, while for others, it is very limited. Some practices and techniques were found to improve ET success, such as: abdominal US guidance, removal of cervical mucus, use of a soft catheter, and placement of the embryo at a distance of more than 10 mm from the uterine fundus. For other aspects of ET there is no sufficient evidence to decide on the preferred practice. These include the optimal length of the procedure and rotation of the catheter during withdrawal. Good-quality randomized clinical trials are much needed in order to decide on the best practice. For example, there was previously a concern that the use of powdered gloves during ET might be toxic to the embryos. However, a single RCT (n=712) has shown that using powdered gloves resulted in similar pregnancy rates compared to unpowdered gloves.

Lubrication gels are widely used in numerous gynecologic procedures in order to ease the insertion of speculum and visualize the cervix. It was shown that applying lubricating gels significantly decreases patient pain during vaginal speculum examination. While many fertility specialists use lubrication gels to insert the speculum during ET, others are strongly reluctant to use gels due to concern that they might have a detrimental effect on embryos and ET success. Similar concern was prevalent regarding the use of lubrication gel during Pap-smear for detection of cervical dysplasia. However, several studies have shown that the use of small amount of water-soluble gel does not change cervical cytology. Lubrication gels might have deleterious effect on sperm motility. However, there wasn't any study examining the effect of lubricant gel on ET success.

The investigators hypothesize that using a lubrication gel will not reduce the live birth rate per transfer, but decrease patient pain during procedure.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
416

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Israel
      • Tel Aviv, Israel
        • Recruiting
        • Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18-40
  • Fresh and thawed ET
  • Patients undergoing their 1st-3rd ET
  • ET of 1-2 embryos

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Age>40
  • Egg donation cycles

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Gel group
Speculum insertion using sterile water-based gel
Other: Sterile water-based gel
Insertion of the speculum during ET will be performed using 5 gr of water-based, sterile gel
No Intervention: Sterile water group
Speculum insertion using sterile water

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Ongoing pregnancy or live birth rate.
Time Frame: 3 years
Number of patients with ongoing pregnancy or live birth at >20 week's gestation.
3 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Positive serum BHCG
Time Frame: 3 years
Number of patients with positive serum BHCG test.
3 years
Clinical pregnancy
Time Frame: 3 years
Number of patients with transvaginal ultrasound test demonstrating fetal cardiac activity.
3 years
Questionnaire
Time Frame: 3 years
Pain score on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 indicates no pain and 10 indicates worst possible pain.
3 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Wolfson Medical Center

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Daniel Tairy, MD, Edith Wolfson Medical Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 18, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 17, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 18, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 24, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 22, 2024

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
July 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 0147-23-WOMC

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

anonymous IPD

IPD Sharing Time Frame

3 years

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF
  • ANALYTIC_CODE
  • CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on IVF

Clinical Trials on Sterile water-based gel

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings