A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Embryo Euploidy Rates Following Ultrashort Versus Standard Abstinence

Launched by UCONN HEALTH · Jul 2, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying whether collecting sperm after a very short waiting time—just one hour of abstinence—can improve the chances of creating embryos with normal chromosomes during IVF (in vitro fertilization). Normal chromosomes are important because they carry the genetic information needed for a healthy baby. The researchers think that using sperm collected after this short break might lead to better embryo quality compared to the usual longer abstinence period.

Women aged 18 to 42 who are undergoing IVF and have a certain number of mature eggs retrieved may be eligible to participate. The trial includes couples where fertilization is done using standard methods or a technique called ICSI, and where genetic testing of embryos is planned. Participants should not be using donor eggs or sperm, frozen sperm or eggs, or certain other specific procedures. During the study, male partners will provide two sperm samples within a few hours. The goal is to see if the shorter waiting time for sperm collection can lead to more embryos with normal chromosomes, potentially improving IVF success. If you qualify and join, you’ll follow the usual IVF process with some additional testing to compare the two sperm collection times.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Subjects are nonpregnant females ≥ 18 years and ≤ 42 years of age.
• • Subjects obtain greater than or equal to 6 mature oocytes at the time of oocyte retrieval for ICSI or greater than or equal to 8 oocytes at the time of oocyte retrieval for standard insemination.
• • Subjects are utilizing standard insemination or ICSI for fertilization.
• • Subjects are undergoing PGT-A (PGT for aneuploidy) or PGT-M (PGT for monogenic disorders).
• • Subjects are willing to comply with study protocol and procedures and provide written informed consent.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Subjects are utilizing donor oocytes, donor sperm, or gestational carrier.
• • Subjects have a diagnosis of cryptozoospermia (no spermatozoa identified in fresh semen sample).
• • Subjects are utilizing surgically removed sperm (e.g. via testicular sperm aspiration \[TESA\] or microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration \[MESA\]).
• • Subjects are utilizing frozen/thawed sperm, including in cases in which a fresh sample was planned and the sample is insufficient for use.
• • Subjects are utilizing frozen/thawed oocytes.
• • Subjects undergoing PGT-SR (PGT for structural rearrangements).
• • Subjects are undergoing a day 3 (cleavage stage) embryo transfer.
• • Subjects obtain less than 6 mature oocytes at the time of oocyte retrieval for ICSI or less than 8 oocytes at the time of oocyte retrieval for standard insemination.
• • Subjects obtain greater than or equal to 6 mature oocytes at the time of oocyte retrieval for ICSI or greater than or equal to 8 oocytes at the time of oocyte retrieval for standard insemination but choose to fertilize fewer than 6 (for ICSI) or 8 (for standard insemination).
• • Male partner is unable to produce a second semen sample within three hours of the first semen sample (standard abstinence sample)
• • Male partner has an infectious disease.