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NCT Number: NCT07231510

Chlordecone Exposure and Female Fertility

Chlordecone is an organochlorine pesticide used in the French West Indies (FWI) from 1972 to 1993 to control the banana root borer. Due to its very long persistence the population continues to be exposed to this chemical through their food consumptions. Although, chlordecone have been associated in animal study impairment of ovarian reserve, to date, no study has been published concerning the link between chlordecone exposure and female fertility. The main objective of this project is to study the association between chlordecone exposure and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) in women consulting for couple infertility in Guadeloupe.

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Key information

Conditions

Infertility Female Adnexal Diseases Cysts Endocrine System Diseases Endometriosis Female Urogenital Diseases Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Genital Diseases Genital Diseases, Female Gonadal Disorders Infertility Infertility, Female Neoplasms Ovarian Cysts Ovarian Diseases Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Urogenital Diseases

Age range

18 year–39 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Observational

Primary location

About this study

Chlordecone is an organochlorine pesticide used in the French West Indies (FWI) from 1972 to 1993 to control the banana root borer. Due to its very long persistence the population continues to be exposed to this chemical through their food consumptions. Chlordecone is an endocrine-disrupting chemical with well-defined estrogenic and progestagenic properties in vivo and in vitro. To date, no study has been published concerning the link between chlordecone exposure and female fertility. Nevertheless, mammalian studies in females have consistently reported that chlordecone exposure impairs ovulation and leads to a reduced ovarian reserve. In addition, there are questions about the impact of other environmental exposures, including by non-targeted approaches, and also of the vaginal and endometrial microbiome on female fertility.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Women aged from 18 to 39 years
  • Consulting for couple infertility at the Centre Caribéen de Médecine de la Reproduction (CCMR, Caribbean Center for Reproductive Medicine) of the University Hospital of Guadeloupe
  • Free, informed and written consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Women aged from 18 to 39 years
  • Consulting for couple infertility at the Centre Caribéen de Médecine de la Reproduction (CCMR, Caribbean Center for Reproductive Medicine) of the University Hospital of Guadeloupe
  • Free, informed and written consent

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Levels of AMH according to terciles of chlordecone levels.

    Time frame: AMH levels will be measured during the assessment conducted for assisted reproductive technology (ART) and will date from less than one year before inclusion

    The purpose is to study the association between chlordecone exposure and AMH levels in women consulting for couple infertility in Guadeloupe.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number of antral follicles according to terciles of chlordecone levels.

    Time frame: between days 2 and 4 of the spontaneous menstrual cycle

    Transvaginal ultrasound for antral follicle count will be performed between days 2 and 4 of the spontaneous menstrual cycle, the number of antral follicles corresponds to the total number of antral follicles in both ovaries, with a diameter between 2 and 10 mm.

  2. AMH levels and antral follicle count according to the levels of other POPs

    Time frame: baseline

    AMH levels and antral follicle count

  3. relationship between exposure to chlordecone and other POPs and the risk of the main causes of female infertility

    Time frame: baseline

    main causes of female infertility : Endometriosis ; Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) ; Decreased ovarian reserve

  4. Chlordecone levels according to the outcomes of IVF/ICSI management:

    Time frame: changes from baseline to 2 years after

    relationship between occupational exposure to solvents and others factors described :

    • Endometrial thickness,
    • Peak estraiol,
    • Number of oocytes collected,
    • Number of mature oocytes collected,
    • Number of zygotes,
    • Embryo quality,
    • Blastocyst number,
    • Number of frozen embryos,
    • Biological pregnancy,
    • Clinical pregnancy,
    • Live birth.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Mélanie petapermal

CONTACT

[email protected]

+590590934667

Valérie Hamony Soter

CONTACT

[email protected]

+590590934677

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de la Guadeloupe

Other

Collaborators

  • Institut Pasteur de Guadeloupe
  • Rennes University Hospital

Registry information

Official study title

KARU-FERTIL: Chlordecone Exposure and Female Fertility

Acronym: KARU-FERTIL

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2028
First posted
Nov 17, 2025
Registry last updated
Nov 17, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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