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Fertility Research

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) Studies

Status: Active, Enrolling

HOPE and TRIOS Study

HOPE (Harness multiple Opportunities for Pregnancy loss Exploration)
TRIOS (Trio analysis of Recurrent pregnancy loss Integrated bioinformatics genomics Study)

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) can affect up to 5% of couples.  Although chromosomal abnormalities explain about half of sporadic pregnancy losses, many RPL patients remain unexplained.  The TRIOS Study’s aim is to understand what biological factors are associated with normal and abnormal pregnancies.  Molecular profiles will examine the interactions between the genes and the environment and how metabolism and immune systems change in normal and abnormal pregnancies.  This study will hopefully help providers identify possible targets and improve future treatments for families suffering with unexplained pregnancy loss. 

Headshot of Aleksander Rajkovic, MD, PhD - Principal Investigator
Aleksander Rajkovic, MD, PhD
Principal Investigator
Headshot of Hakan Cakmak, MD - Research Investigator
Hakan Cakmak, MD
Research Investigator

Headshot of Eleni Jaswa, MD - Research Investigator
Eleni Jaswa, MD
Research Investigator

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Studies

Status: Active, Enrolling

APPOSE Study | Assessment and Prevention of Pain During Ovarian Stimulation in Patients with Endometriosis

Endometriosis is an estrogen dependent disease present in 25-35% of infertile women. When treating infertility controlled ovarian hyperstimulation leads to development of multiple follicles and considerable rise in serum estradiol concentration, patients and providers must consider the posible risk of disease and symptom progression related to ovarian hyperstimulation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of this hyperstimulation on symptoms related to endometriosis using patient surveys, and to evaluate the impact of Letrozole use during this stimulation with respect to symptoms related to endometriosis, embryo quality, and pregnancy rates. 

You may be eligible if you are: diagnosed with Endometriosis and are undergoing fertility treatments

Headshot of Marcelle Cedars, MD - Principal Investigator
Marcelle Cedars, MD
Principal Investigator

Headshot of Maren Shapiro, MD - Co-Investigator
Maren Shapiro, MD
Co-Investigator

Status: Active, Enrolling

CLeAR Study | Cytokines, Lipids, and Reproduction (CLeAR)

The CLeAR study is investigating markers of inflammation and reproductive health. Inflammation may influence human fertility and we would like to know more about these factors and evaluate the impact of these markers on various stages of reproduction. Participants will be asked for a short blood draw and follicular fluid collection (typically discarded during IVF) during their retrieval procedure. 

You may be eligible if you are: female, aged 18-43 years old, and undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment

Headshot of Victor Fujimoto, MD - Principal Investigator
Victor Fujimoto, MD
Principal Investigator
Headshot of Jamie Corley - Research Coordinator
Jamie Corley
Research Coordinator

Status: Active, Not Enrolling New Participants

DESCRT Study | Developmental Epidemiological Study of Children born through Reproductive Technology

Despite the rise in the number of births from fertility treatments, there are limited long-term data on health of the offspring. The purpose of the study is to establish an epidemiological cohort of almost 4,000 pregnancies to address critical public health questions regarding potential metabolic risk to children conceived through fertility treatments.

You may be eligible if you: have previously/are currently receiving fertility treatment from UCSF Center for Reproductive Health 

We are currently not accepting any new participants.

Headshot of Marcelle Cedars, MD - Principal Cedars
Marcelle Cedars, MD
Principal Cedars
Headshot of Zakia Young - Research Coordinator
Zakia Young
Research Coordinator
Headshot of Rebecca Wong - Research Coordinator
Rebecca Wong
Research Coordinator
Headshot of David Huang, MD - REI Fellow
David Huang, MD
REI Fellow

Status: Active, Enrolling

EXPLORE Study | Expanding fertility care to Poor and Low Resourced settings

Whether the sole factor or an additional cause, male factor contributes close to 50% of infertility experienced by couples. Given this high prevalence, the evaluation of the male partner is an essential component of the couple's initial evaluation and usually exclusively refers to the semen analysis. No studies to date have evaluated barriers to completion of the semen analysis besides cost, particularly in low resourced settings. The study objective is to identify barriers to completing the basic infertility work-up in a low resource setting. Participants will be randomized to complete a semen analysis by the standard in-clinic test versus completion of an at-home semen testing kit. All participants will receive a survey at the end of the study exploring their level of satisfaction with and/or potential barriers encountered with semen analysis testing. 

You may be eligible if you are: male between the ages of 18-64, no history of a prior semen analysis, economically or educationally disadvantaged are eligible to enroll, and undergoing an infertility evaluation. 

Headshot of Yanett Anaya, MD - Primary Investigator
Yanett Anaya, MD
Primary Investigator
Headshot of James Smith, MD - Primary Investigator
James Smith, MD
Primary Investigator
Headshot of Aileen Portugal - Resident
Aileen Portugal
Resident
Status: Active, Enrolling

FEM Differences Study | Female Estrogen Metabolism (FEM) Differences Study

Women have variable amounts of estrogen produced from the growing follicles that circulates in their blood as they undergo ovarian stimulation. Higher studies suggest this difference may be related to how women metabolize estrogen. This matters because it effects how much hormone goes in circulation and may have implications on how effective medications are, as well as how many medication side effects women feel. Our goal will be to determine, if metabolize difference are present, and if so, to learn why these differences ocur. 

You may be eligible if you are: Female, 18 years or older, and undergoing ovarian stimulation for elective oocyte cryopreservation or in vitro fertilization.

Headshot of Victor Fujimoto, MD - Principal Investigator
Victor Fujimoto, MD
Principal Investigator
Headshot of Maren Shapiro, MD - Co-Investigator
Maren Shapiro, MD
Co-Investigator

Status: Active, Not Enrolling New Participants

hESC Study | Generation and study of clinical-grade Human Embryonic Stem Cell lines

The study is enrolling UCSF CRH patients willing to donate embryos created during the IVF cycle that are of low quality and therefore cannot be used for treatment. Embryos to use in this project would normally be discarded because their quality indicates that they cannot implant and subsequently cannot give rise to pregnancy. The overall goal of the study is to develop cell-based therapies for diabetes. 

You may be eligible if you are: female (or assigned female at birth), aged 18-41, undergoing IVF treatment at UCSF Center for Reproductive Health, and not using sperm or ovum donor samples

Headshot of Hakan Cakmak, MD - Principal Investigator
Hakan Cakmak, MD
Principal Investigator
Headshot of Susan Fisher, PhD - Principal Investigator
Susan Fisher, PhD
Principal Investigator

Headshot of Michael McMaster, PhD - Principal Investigator
Michael McMaster, PhD
Principal Investigator

Status: Active, Not Enrolling New Participants

INVOcell | Comparing Intra-Vaginal Culture of Embryos using INVOcell Device to In-vitro Culture of Embryos

The purpose of this study is to evaluate implantation rate with intra-vaginal culture with the INVOcell devise versus traditional IVF while using minimal stimulation protocols. 

You may be eligible if you are: female (or assigned female at birth), aged 18-37, and experiencing one or more years of infertility

Headshot of Marcelle Cedars, MD - Principal Investigator
Marcelle Cedars, MD
Principal Investigator

Headshot of Nikolaus Lenhart - Research Coordinator
Nikolaus Lenhart
Research Coordinator

Status: Active, Enrolling

PIoUS Study: sperm Preparation prior to IntraUterine inSemination study

One of the most common fertility treatments is intrauterine insemination (IUI). Sperm is typically prepared for IUI with density gradient centrifugation, though this technique can damage the genetic material in sperm.  Studies of sperm prepared with a newer process using the FDA-approved Zymot Multi sperm preparation device have shown a 67% higher pregnancy rate (an increase from 9% to 15%), less DNA damage, higher sperm motility (movement/speed), and better morphology (shape). 

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to figure out which sperm preparation yields a higher pregnancy rate – density gradient centrifugation compared to the Zymot Multi sperm preparation device.

You may be eligible if you are: planning your first intrauterine insemination cycle and are not using a frozen sperm source

Headshot of Mitchell Rosen, MD - Principal Investigator
Mitchell Rosen, MD
Principal Investigator
Headshot of Alisha Tolani, MD - Principal Investigator, REI Fellow
Alisha Tolani, MD
Principal Investigator, REI Fellow

Status: Active, Enrolling

REST-UP Study | Restoring Metabolic and Reproductive Health with Sleep in PCOS

The REST-UP Study is about restoring metabolic and reproductive health with sleep in individuals with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. This study specifically aims to investigate why some people with obstructive sleep apnea have higher levels of insulin resistance. Study investigators will also examine the role of hypoxia (low levels of oxygen in the blood at night) in insulin resistance. Participation in this study includes an overnight visit at the UCSF Sleep Center in Mission Bay or a 1-hour visit with a sleep technician to teach you how to set up polysomnography equipment at home for a night.

Headshot of Heather Huddleston, MD - Principal Investigator
Heather Huddleston, MD
Principal Investigator
Headshot of Jamie Corley - Research Coordinator
Jamie Corley
Research Coordinator
Headshot of Jacob Christ - Research Coordinator
Jacob Christ
Research Coordinator
Status: Active, Enrolling

Celmatix | Study of genetic and phenotypic risk factors underlying female infertility

In our continued commitment to innovation in the treatment of infertility, the UCSF Center for Reproductive Health has partnered with Celmatix to conduct an ambitious research study that will help us understand the genetic factors that underlie both fertility potential and infertility. Your participation could help us get one step closer to understanding unexplained infertility and a woman’s fertility potential. You will be asked to donate blood during a routine blood draw and to allow researchers to review your relevant medical information. This information will be used to help discover genetic factors associated with a woman’s fertility.

Any female between the ages of 18-45 is eligible to participate who is a current or prospective patient of the UCSF Center for Reproductive Health, including those who are seeking help conceiving and/or undergoing fertility preservation.

Headshot of Marcelle Cedars, MD - Principle Investigator
Marcelle Cedars, MD
Principle Investigator
Headshot of Nikolaus Lenhart - Research Coordinator
Nikolaus Lenhart
Research Coordinator
Headshot of Flor Juarez-Hernandez - Research Coordinator
Flor Juarez-Hernandez
Research Coordinator