Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Not Yet Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT07626359

Randomized Non-inferiority Within-Patient Trial of Density Gradient Processing of Sequential Ejaculates Versus Centrifugation-free Sperm Separation Device for ICSI in Men With Elevated Sperm DNA Fragmentation.

Elevated SDF can adversely impact fertilization, embryo development, and pregnancy outcomes in IVF-ICSI cycles. Two pragmatic strategies aim to reduce SDF on the day of ICSI: (i) obtaining a second ejaculate shortly after the first to reduce oxidative damage and transit time; and (ii) selecting sperm via centrifugation-free sperm separation device, which enriches for motile sperm with intact DNA. There are limited direct comparisons between these strategies; this study addresses that gap.

Not Yet Recruiting

Trial opening soon.

Get Notified

Key information

Conditions

Age range

21 year–45 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Recruitment, Patna, Bihar, India

Loading trial locations.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • • Elevated SDF defined as DFI >20 %measured by the sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test performed in a participating center's andrology laboratory, using a harmonized protocol under standardized conditions after 2-3 days of ejaculatory abstinence, and within 90 days (≤3 months) prior to enrollment.
  • Male partners 21-45 years;
  • Female partners 21-35 years.
  • Undergoing IVF/ICSI.
  • No known genetic or chromosomal abnormalities.
  • Minimum 4 MII oocyte patients shall be included

Exclusion criteria

  • Azoospermia or severe oligoasthenozoospermia (<1 million motile sperm/mL).
  • Significant systemic disease (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, malignancy).
  • History of a prior ICSI cycle with no embryo development.
  • Relevant female factors: untreated adnexal pathology ,a history of a thin endometrium (<7 mm) following endometrium preparation for embryo transfer

Treatment and study plan

Processed using density gradient centrifugation

Procedure

Processed using density gradient centrifugation

Second Ejaculate (collected after 1-3 hours)

Procedure

The second ejaculate will be processed with two-layer density gradient centrifugation followed by standard washing.

Primary outcomes

  1. Ongoing Pregnancy Rate

    Time frame: 12 weeks of gestation

    Ongoing pregnancy rate

Secondary outcomes

  1. Sperm motility and morphology after sperm sorting or second ejaculate collection.

    Time frame: At the day of ICSI

    Sperm motility and morphology after sperm sorting or second ejaculate collection.

  2. Blastocyst rate

    Time frame: Day 5&6 after ICSI

    Blastocyst rate

  3. Good Blastocyst rate

    Time frame: Day 5&6 after ICSI

    Total number of good blast

  4. Biochemical Pregnancy Rate

    Time frame: 2 weeks after embryo transfer

    Biochemical Pregnancy Rate

  5. Implantation Rate

    Time frame: 4-6 weeks after embryo transfer

    An embryo implantation rate is the percentage of transferred embryos that successfully attach to the uterine lining and develop into a clinical pregnancy

  6. Clinical Pregnancy Rate

    Time frame: 4-6 weeks after embryo transfer

    measures the percentage of fertility treatment cycles (like IVF) that result in a pregnancy confirmed by an ultrasound showing a gestational sac or fetal heartbeat

  7. First trimester Miscarriage Rate

    Time frame: Till 12 weeks after embryo transfer

    Miscarriages are very common, occurring in about 10% to 20% of all known pregnancies.

Study contacts

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

Sandro Esteves, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

Shashank Sanagoudar, MS

CONTACT

[email protected]

91-8050406053

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Indira IVF Hospital Pvt Ltd

Other

Registry information

Acronym: SE

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2028
First posted
Jun 4, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 4, 2026

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.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.