Seeking Patients for Research
Current Studdies:
Are you and your partner having trouble getting pregnant and considering IVF (in vitro fertilization)? UNC Fertility is working on a research study for infertile couples who are considering IVF to help them conceive. Qualifying couples will receive an IVF cycle at a discounted rate.
Study Details:
You and your partner will have a consultation appointment with a physician in our UNC Fertility Clinic to determine if you are a good candidate for IVF and for this study. Note that this visit is considered part of routine medical care.
- Female partner must be <41 years old to participate in this study.
- If you are a good candidate for the study, you will undergo an IVF cycle with ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval, with the same methods that we routinely use for IVF.
- For the study, we will divide the eggs into two groups – half will be fertilized immediately, and the other half will be frozen and immediately thawed, and then fertilized.
- We will perform an embryo transfer using embryos derived from the freeze/thaw cycle.
- Note that couples planning IVF with an egg donor may qualify for the study as well. Female partner must be <48 years old in IVF cycles with an egg donor.
Benefits of participation:
Enrolled couples will receive an IVF cycle at a discounted cost.
To learn if you and your partner would qualify for this study, call us for a consultation appointment at 919-908-0000 or send an email to (IVFstudy@unc.edu) with your name, phone number and times that you can be reached. We will not share your email address with anyone outside of the study.
The principal investigator for this study, “Clinical evaluation of egg cryopreservation”, is Jennifer Mersereau, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina. This study has received approval from the UNC Biomedical Institutional Review Board on 12/16/2010, study # 10-1911.
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Genes contain instructions that tell our bodies how to develop and function properly. In this study we are testing blood samples for a specific gene variant (called “fragile X premutation”) that may indicate an increased chance for developing ovarian dysfunction that increases the chance of having an early menopause and, potentially, infertility. The purpose of this study is to find out how common this gene is in women with certain fertility problems compared to women with premature menopause, to learn how the gene might be related to the woman’s age at infertility, and to learn the range of emotional reactions to this genetic screening test. This research is being conducted in cooperation with the University of Virginia. Participation is limited to women with certain infertility-related ovarian conditions. If you have ever been diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve or have had a follicle-stimulating hormone level that was elevated, we welcome you to contact Dr. Steve Young at 919-966-5283 or youngs@med.unc.edu.
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This is an ongoing project that is a key element of our ongoing research on the endometrium, or the tissue that lines the uterus. The endometrium changes throughout the menstrual cycle, and is where the embryo attaches and implants in the womb. We seek healthy women with no known fertility issues who also meet the following criteria:
- between 18 and 35 years old.
- have regular periods every 25-35 days
- not currently taking any form of hormonal birth control or using an IUD
- not currently pregnant, not actively trying to get pregnant in the next few months
- not breastfeeding
- average body weight, not obese (BMI of 29 or less)
- Other medical conditions or medications may prevent participation, but require case by case evaluation.
Subjects would have an initial appointment to review the consent form and possibly also receive ovulation test kits to use at home. A second visit for the study procedure is scheduled for a specific time in your menstrual cycle and typically takes no more than one hour. Those who complete this study receive $200. For more details please contact Dr. Steve Young at 919-966-5283 or youngs@med.unc.edu.
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When a woman gets pregnant, there is a crucial time when the new embryo attaches to the endometrum, the tissue lining the inner wall of the uterus. The time when this occurs is called the window of implantation and successful pregnancy depends on it. This exciting project is part of an ongoing series of studies that uses a unique model of infertility in healthy women. By using a medication to safely prevent volunteers from ovulating for one menstrual cycle, our physicians can then control the levels of estrogen and progesterone during the time implantation would occur. This model has allowed our doctors to gain insight into the regulation of implantation and how small changes in estrogen or progesterone at that crucial time might influence implantation. This study takes 7-8 weeks to complete, 8 visits total. The basic requirements include:
- between 18 and 35 years old.
- have regular periods every 25-35 days
- not currently taking any form of hormonal birth control or using an IUD
- not currently pregnant, not actively trying to get pregnant in the next few months
- not breastfeeding
- average body weight, not obese (BMI of 29 or less)
- Other medical conditions or medications may prevent participation, but require case by case evaluation.
Subjects have an initial appointment to review the consent form and to receive ovulation test kits for use at home. Most visits take less than an hour, and you’re your parking costs are covered. Those who complete this study receive $400 and it may also be completed together with the Normal Endometrium Study. For more details please contact Dr. Steve Young at 919-966-5283 or youngs@med.unc.edu.
