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Polycystic Ovary SyndromeNCT01046032

Metformin Treatment Before in Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in Women With Ultrasound Evidence of Polycystic Ovaries

A study testing Metformin in people with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, run by University of Oxford at 3 sites in United Kingdom.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The aim of study was to investigate whether pre-treatment with metformin before and during IVF increases the live birth rate compared to placebo in women with sonographic evidence of polycystic ovaries (PCO), but without any clinical manifestations of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages Up to 38 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
What is being tested?
Metformin
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
134 participants
Where
3 sitesUnited Kingdom
Study dates
Dec 2005to May 2009
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages Up to 38 years
  • Women only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child, Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Women attending with ovulatory PCO due to undergo IVF/ICSI treatment.
  • First or second cycle of IVF/ICSI.
  • If previously on metformin, a minimum one month washout period was required.
  • Polycystic ovaries diagnosed by ultrasound presence of ≥12 follicles measuring 2-9 mm in diameter in at least one ovary and/or increased ovarian volume (≥10 ml).
  • Written informed consent.

Who cannot join

  • Clinical manifestations of PCOS, including any of the following:
  • Oligo- or amenorrhoea with cycles ≥42 days apart.
  • Anovulation with mid-luteal progesterone <16 nmol/L.
  • Biochemical hyperandrogenism with serum testosterone ≥3.5 nmol/L and/or free androgen index >5 (FAI = [total testosterone/SHBG] x 100).
  • Clinical hyperandrogenism with hirsutism or acne requiring treatment at least weekly.
  • Age >38 years.
Show all 17Show fewer
  • BMI >35 kg/m2.
  • Basal FSH >12 IU/L.
  • Liver disease or ALT >80 IU/L.
  • Renal disease, or creatinine >130 nmol/L.
  • Alcoholism or drug abuse.
  • Diabetes mellitus (evaluated by fasting glucose >6.7mmol/L).
  • Per oral steroid treatment in last month.
  • Cimetidine, anticoagulation, erythromycin, or other macrolides in last month.
  • Hyperprolactinemia (Prolactin >700 mIU/L).
  • Abnormal thyroid function tests (TSH outside of laboratory normal range).
  • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Trial locations and contacts

3 sites in 1 country.

United Kingdom3 sites
  • IVF Hammersmith

    London

  • Nuture IVF Unit

    Nottingham

  • Oxford Fertility Unit

    Oxford, OX39DU

Other trials in United Kingdom

About this study

Official title: Metformin Treatment Before IVF in Women With Ultrasound Evidence of Polycystic Ovaries; a Prospective, Randomised, Double Blind, Placebo Study

The aim of study was to investigate whether pre-treatment with metformin before and during IVF increases the live birth rate compared to placebo in women with sonographic evidence of polycystic ovaries (PCO), but without any clinical manifestations of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Being tested
Metformin, Placebo
Keywords
Polycystic ovaries, Ovarian stimulation, IVF, Ovarian hyperstimulation, Metformin
Medical subject headings
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • MetforminDrug

    Women were randomised to receive either metformin or placebo starting three weeks before initiation of a GnRH agonist during an IVF treatment cycle (seven weeks prior to oocyte collection and then stopped at oocyte collection). Seventy identical packs of metformin and 70 identical packs of placebo were supplied by DHP Ltd, Crickhowell, Powys (UK) a commercial clinical trial supplier. The randomisation service was provided by DHP Ltd.

  • PlaceboDrug

    Women were randomised to receive either metformin or placebo starting three weeks before initiation of a GnRH agonist during an IVF treatment cycle (seven weeks prior to oocyte collection and then stopped at oocyte collection). Seventy identical packs of metformin and 70 identical packs of placebo were supplied by DHP Ltd, Crickhowell, Powys (UK) a commercial clinical trial supplier. The randomisation service was provided by DHP Ltd.

Study groups in NCT01046032
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
MetforminActive comparatorDrug (including placebo)
Receives: Drug: Metformin
Sugar pillPlacebo comparatorDrug (including placebo)
Receives: Drug: Placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Live birth rate

    Measured: End of pregnancy

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

    Measured: 2 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted11 Jan 2010 (estimated)
  2. Study startDec 2005
  3. Primary completionMay 2009
  4. Study completionMay 2009

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator
Enrolment
134 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01046032
Sponsor's protocol ID
05/Q1605/87
Status last verified
Jan 2010
First submitted
3 Jan 2010
Last updated
11 Jan 2010
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Tang T, Glanville J, Orsi N, Barth JH, Balen AH. The use of metformin for women with PCOS undergoing IVF treatment. Hum Reprod. 2006 Jun;21(6):1416-25. doi: 10.1093/humrep/del025. Epub 2006 Feb 24.

    PubMed 16501038
  • Kjotrod SB, von During V, Carlsen SM. Metformin treatment before IVF/ICSI in women with polycystic ovary syndrome; a prospective, randomized, double blind study. Hum Reprod. 2004 Jun;19(6):1315-22. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deh248. Epub 2004 Apr 29.

    PubMed 15117902
  • Swanton A, Lighten A, Granne I, McVeigh E, Lavery S, Trew G, Talmor A, Raine-Fenning N, Jayaprakasan K, Child T. Do women with ovaries of polycystic morphology without any other features of PCOS benefit from short-term metformin co-treatment during IVF? A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Hum Reprod. 2011 Aug;26(8):2178-84. doi: 10.1093/humrep/der120. Epub 2011 May 18.

    PubMed 21593045

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Metformin in people with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, run by University of Oxford at 3 sites in United Kingdom.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 17 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Jan 2010. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 3 sites in United Kingdom. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Live birth rate (time frame: End of pregnancy). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01046032, which also lists 3 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Jan 2010.

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