Description

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial comparing ovarian injection of platelet-rich plasma vs. placebo in women diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve at risk for a poor ovarian response (POR) between 35 to 42 years of age. Participants for this study include patients who are planning to undergo IVF with preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) followed by a frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle. Only patients with either a euploid embryo or eligible mosaic embryo (following consultation with a geneticist), as determined by PGT-A, will be allowed to proceed with a single blastocyst FET cycle

All patients will have a baseline ultrasound and blood work at the time of menses, approximately one month prior to starting their initial IVF cycle. Routine monitoring will be required to determine the day of ovulation. Once an LH surge is detected or if a lead follicle on pelvic ultrasound is deemed large enough to induce ovulation, a "trigger" shot with 250 mcg/0.5 mL of Ovidrel® will be self-administered subcutaneously (SQ). Based upon the patient's randomization, either oPRP or ovarian Serum (oS) injections will be performed under anesthesia and within 72 hours from the day of ovulation. Following their ovarian injections, all patients will return for monitoring with the onset of menses approximately 14 to 16 days from the date of ovulation.

A medication protocol will be determined at the start of each IVF cycle. Either a natural (nIVF), mild (mIVF) or conventional (cIVF) IVF protocol will be chosen by the treating physician. This determination will be based on findings from the repeat pelvic ultrasound with AFC and blood work for anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), lutenizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), and beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (B-hCG). Natural IVF will be considered for patients with only 1-2 antral follicles, mIVF for patients with 2-4 antral follicles observed, and cIVF for patients with four or more antral follicles visualized at the time stimulation started.

Patients will begin their designated protocol and return four to five days following medication start. A repeat pelvic ultrasound will be performed to measure the growth and size of all follicles visualized along with the endometrial thickness. Also, blood work for E2, FSH, LH, and P4 will be obtained. Monitoring for follicular and endometrial development will continue routinely and as needed, until the majority of all follicles observed have a mean diameter between 15 to 22 mm. Induction of ovulation will commence 35 and a half hours prior to oocyte retrieval, by self-administration of 10,000 IU hCG SQ.

The patient will receive deep IV sedation anesthesia by a board-certified anesthesiologist for her oocyte retrieval and placement of either her second oPRP or oS injections. Using transvaginal ultrasound guidance, all follicles visualized under ultrasound will be aspirated using standard practices by patients undergoing IVF at GNF. Aspirates will be collected in 10 ml test tubes. All oocytes will be assessed at the time of retrieval for maturity. All oocytes that are deemed mature (MII) will undergo intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), to maximize fertilization rates, 2-4 hours after identification of the first polar body. All immature (non MII) oocytes will be isolated under a stereomicroscope and transferred into maturation media and incubated further in a triple gas mixture (90% N2, 5% CO2, and 5% O2) for up to 24 hours to allow maturation prior to ICSI. Following the oocyte retrieval, either oPRP or oS will be performed as described previously.

Monitoring will recommence two weeks following the first oocyte retrieval to identify if any residual follicles or ovarian cysts are present. If the ovaries are deemed resting and no active ovarian cysts persist, then the patient will begin her second IVF cycle. Again, the medication protocol will be determined by findings observed on pelvic ultrasound including AFC and ovarian hormone testing. If the patient is deemed ineligible to start another IVF cycle, then she will return with the following menstrual period to begin her second IVF cycle. The process of monitoring patients, inducing ovulation and collecting oocytes will be identical to the first oocyte retrieval. However, no additional oPRP or oS injections will be performed.