An observational study in Neural Activity, Brain Function and Neurodynamics, sponsored by ART Fertility Clinics LLC. Recruiting at 2 sites in United Arab Emirates. Open to female participants aged 25 Years to 35 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-23.
Sponsored by ART Fertility Clinics LLC · Observational
The investigators aim is to investigate the brain's dynamic complexity across three phases of an ovarian stimulation cycle (basal, pre-OPU, mid-luteal), to observe the impact of externally administered hormones, and compare it with the corresponding phases of a natural menstrual cycle (early follicular, pre-ovulatory, mid-luteal) in the same woman. Brain activity patterns will be examined using resting-state fMRI in a sample of young, healthy, naturally cycling women.
The investigators seeks to fill a significant gap in our understanding of the impact of ovarian stimulation on brain dynamics, an area that has not been previously explored. By investigating the brain's dynamic complexity across controlled ovarian stimulation cycle the investigators aim to shed light on how externally administered hormones influence brain activity patterns. Utilizing resting-state Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to examine a sample of young, healthy, naturally cycling women, this research will provide crucial insights into the safety and neurophysiological effects of ovarian stimulation. Understanding these effects is essential for ensuring the well-being of women undergoing oocyte freezing and other fertility treatments.
ART Fertility Clinics LLC is the lead sponsor of 51 studies on the registry; 20 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Young (age range 25-35), healthy, naturally cycling women with a normal BMI, who want to undergo ovarian stimulation for oocyte vitrification.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
A planned gap after a treatment, so that its effects can lessen before the study treatment or a study assessment. Ask the study team and the doctor who prescribed it before changing any medicine.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Washout period
A planned gap after a treatment, so that its effects can lessen before the study treatment or a study assessment. Ask the study team and the doctor who prescribed it before changing any medicine.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
\- Initial Assessment of Volunteers for Inclusion in the study. Once included, volunteers will need to be assessed 8 times during the study period, with 6 fMRI scans: * Natural menstrual cycle (depending on cycle duration: around 26-35 days) 1. Basal (day 2-3 of the menstrual cycle) 2. Monitoring of follicle growth (no fMRI at these monitoring dates) 3. Day of LH surge +/-1 day (around day 14, 2-3 hormonal checks will be needed to identify Ovulation Day) 4. Mid-Luteal (6-7 days after ovulation) * Stimulated Cycle 5. Basal (day 2-3 of the menstrual cycle) 6. Standard monitoring during ovarian stimulation (no fMRI at these monitoring dates) 7. Day between administration of final oocyte maturation \& Oocyte Pick-Up (OPU) 8. Mid-luteal (6-7 days after OPU) Every stage will include a blood test for hormonal evaluation, vaginal ultrasound for follicular count \& sizing, administration of MRI protocol. The first visit will include buccal swab.
Diagnostic Test: Functional Magnetic resonance imaging will be done on day 2 or 3 of the menstrual cycle, trigger-shot and egg retrieval.
Functional Magnetic resonance imaging will be done on day 2 or 3 of the menstrual cycle, trigger-shot and egg retrieval.
Brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
Comparison of brain activity between the natural menstrual cycle and a stimulated cycles using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at three cycle points.
Time frame: Measure at three cycle points: basal (day 2-3), ovulation (during ovulation or day after trigger-shot), and at luteal phase (7-10 days after ovulation or trigger shot).
Hormonal levels (Estradiol, LH, FSH, Progesterone) fluctuation.
Analyze relation of hormonal fluctuations (Estradiol, LH, FSH, Progesterone) at three cycle points with brain dynamics and neural connectivity.
Time frame: Measure at three cycle points: basal (day 2-3), ovulation (during ovulation or day after trigger-shot), and at luteal phase (7-10 days after ovulation or trigger shot).
Whole genome sequencing of patient.
Sequence patient's genome using saliva sampling to observes the genetic basis of fertility traits, to identify genetic variants associated with various neural and fertility phenotypes.
Time frame: Day 1 - baseline saliva sample collection.
Started Apr 2025 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Dec 2026, 20 months after the start.
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