Is the Diurnal Variation in Circulating Levels of Cortisol Reflected in Follicular Fluid of Preovulatory Follicles Close to Ovulation?

Launched by ART FERTILITY CLINICS LLC · Mar 10, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how the levels of cortisol, a hormone that helps control inflammation, change throughout the day in women who are preparing for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Specifically, the study will compare cortisol levels in blood and in the fluid surrounding eggs just before ovulation at two different times: 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Researchers want to understand if the timing of when samples are taken affects cortisol levels and if this could help with tissue repair after ovulation.

To be part of this study, women must be between 18 and 35 years old, have a healthy body weight, and be undergoing IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment. They should also have regular menstrual cycles and meet specific criteria regarding their ovarian reserve, which is a measure of how many viable eggs they have. However, women with certain conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or advanced endometriosis, as well as those outside the age and weight range, won't be eligible. Participants can expect to provide blood and follicular fluid samples at the designated times, contributing valuable information that could improve future fertility treatments.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Indication for IVF / ICSI - treatment
• • Age ≥ 18 years and ≤ 35 years
• • Body weight: 19 - 29 kg/m2
• • Ovarian reserve parameters in the adequate age - range, determined by Anti-Muellerian-Hormone (AMH) and Antral Follicle Count (AFC) (Shebl 2011, Hamdine 2015)
• • Regular cycle (25-35 days)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Age \< 18 years and \> 35 years
• • Body weight \< 60 kg and \> 90 kg
• • Ovarian reserve parameters outside the adequate age - range, determined by Anti-Muellerian-Hormone (AMH) and Antral Follicle Count (AFC) (Shebl 2011, Hamdine 2015)
• * Proven poor responder in preceding IVF-treatment-cycle, according to the Bologna criteria: at least two of the following three features must be present:
• • (i) Advanced maternal age (≥40 years) or any other risk factor for POR (poor ovarian response) (ii) A previous POR (≤3 oocytes with a conventional stimulation protocol) (iii) An abnormal ovarian reserve test (i.e. AFC \< 5-7 follicles or AMH \< 0.5 -1.1 ng/ml)
• • Two episodes of POR after maximal stimulation are sufficient to define a patient as a poor responder in the absence of advanced maternal age or abnormal ORT
• • Diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), according to Rotterdam criteria
• • Endometriosis stage 3 or 4 AFS (American Fertility Society)
• • Irregular cycle (\< 25 days and \> 35 days)
• • Treatment with GnRH-analogues during the previous 6 months
• • Intake of contraceptive pill (OCP) or any hormonal treatment during the last 3 months