An interventional study of Ultrashort abstinence and Standard abstinence in Infertility and Male Factor Infertility, sponsored by UConn Health. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 42 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-09.
Sponsored by UConn Health · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This research is being done to determine if producing sperm after an ultrashort period of abstinence (1 hour of abstinence) will be effective in improving the rates of embryos with normal chromosomes (structures that carry genetic information) during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. The investigators hypothesize that a shorter period of abstinence is effective at improving rates of normal chromosomes among embryos.
As part of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process, eggs are removed from the ovaries and are inseminated (mixed) or injected with sperm. Typically, sperm samples for IVF are produced on the day of egg retrieval. The current recommendation for abstinence prior to providing this sample is 2-7 days. However, new research has shown that there may be improved IVF outcomes with a shorter period of abstinence including improved integrity of sperm DNA (called sperm DNA fragmentation), sperm parameters (such as motility and shape), embryo quality, implantation rates, pregnancy rates, and live birth rates. One small study found that shorter abstinence may even lead to a higher rate of chromosomally normal embryos.
The purpose of this research study is to determine whether using an ultrashort period of abstinence increases the rates of embryos with normal chromosomes. On the day of egg retrieval, participants will produce two semen samples. The first sample will be collected after 2-5 days of abstinence (standard abstinence). The second sample will be collected 1 hour after the first sample (ultrashort abstinence). Both of these samples will be used for IVF.
At the time of egg retrieval, participants will have their eggs randomized (like the flip of a coin) into two groups. Half of the eggs will be exposed to sperm produced after 2-5 days of abstinence (standard abstinence). The other half of the eggs will be exposed to sperm produced after 1 hour of abstinence (ultrashort abstinence). The goal is to determine the rate of embryos with normal chromosomes in each group. Other goals include looking at how many patients get pregnant after embryo transfer.
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This study's planned enrollment of 187 is above the median of 120 across 1,698 interventional studies indexed under Infertility.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Half of participants eggs will be exposed to sperm produced after ultrashort abstinence (1 hour of abstinence).
Other: Ultrashort abstinence
Half of participants eggs will be exposed to sperm produced after standard abstinence (2-5 days of abstinence).
Other: Standard abstinence
Ultrashort abstinence: producing a sperm sample after 1 hour of abstinence.
Standard abstinence: producing a sperm sample after 2-5 days of abstinence.
Euploidy rate
Rate of embryos with normal chromosomes in both groups
Time frame: Within 2-4 weeks of IVF cycle
Pregnancy rates after transfer of euploid embryos
Pregnancy rate after one euploid embryo (from either experimental or control group) is transferred back into the participant in a subsequent cycle
Time frame: Within 1-2 weeks of transfer
Fertilization rate
Proportion of oocytes fertilized in each group
Time frame: Within 1 - 2 weeks of IVF cycle
Blastulation rate
Proportion of usable blastocysts in each group
Time frame: Within 2-3 weeks of IVF cycle
Sperm DNA fragmentation and DNA methylation results
Compare sperm DNA fragmentation and DNA methylation results between groups
Time frame: 1-2 years after initial study completed
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This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Jul 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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