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NCT Number: NCT06742788

The Feasibility of taVNS on Pregnancy Outcomes of Infertility Patients Undergoing IVF

To assess the feasibility of taVNS on pregnancy outcomes of infertility subjects undergoing IVF, the primary aim of this trial will focus on encompassing recruitment, compliance, and preliminary engagement outcomes.

The exploratory aim is to carry out clinical research, which entails evaluating the preliminary effects of the intervention in order to ascertain its potential benefits.

The main question it aims to answer is: Does the taVNS is feasible and tolerated in the context of IVF?

What medical problems do participants have when using the taVNS device? Researchers will compare the taVNS to the sham transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (a look-alike device that produces a sub-threshold therapeutic stimulus and functions as a sham stimulus) and blank control to see if the taVNS device works to enhance outcomes of IVF.

Participants will:

Use the device a total of 1.5 hours daily, with the sessions divided into three parts, each lasting 30 minutes. At least one of these periods occur within 2 hours before bedtime.

Visit the clinic according to the scheduled treatment time points of IVF. Keep a diary of their adverse events and the number of times they use the device.

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Key information

Conditions

Infertility Assisted Reproductive Technology Genital Diseases Infertility Urogenital Diseases

Age range

20 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Subjects aged 20 to 40 years, diagnosed with infertility, and preparing to undergo IVF treatment;
  • Female subjects with anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) > 1.2 ng/mL;
  • Scoring at mild-to-moderate levels of impairment on anxiety, and depression scales;
  • Both the subject and their family sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

  • The subject had been treated with taVNS in the past;
  • Subjects preparing to undergo frozen embryo transfer;
  • Subjects with a history of mental disorder or who score at a severe level of impairment on anxiety and depression scales;
  • Taking sedatives, anxiety, depression, or psychiatric medications;
  • Comorbidities including arrhythmia, hypertension, diabetes, chronic heart and kidney diseases;
  • Ineligibility for enrollment assessed by a gynecologist or neurologist;
  • Metallic implants or devices contraindicating taVNS.

Treatment and study plan

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS)

Device

Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) is an emerging, non-invasive adjunctive therapy.

The taVNS protocol is configured with a pulse width of 500 µs, a frequency of 25 Hz, and a current intensity titrated to each patient's pain tolerance threshold (range: 0.5-2.0 mA). The stimulation is to be carried out for a total of 1.5 hours daily, with the sessions divided into three parts, each lasting 30 minutes. At least one of these periods occur within 2 hours before bedtime.

The study will use the Chinese National Institutes for Food and Drug Control certificated taVNS device TVNS-100 (Xinzhile Medical Technology Co., Jiangxi, China). The study includes an intervening period of 4 weeks.

sham transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (staVNS)

Device

The sham transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (staVNS) serves as a sub-threshold therapeutic stimulus functions as a sham stimulus. The staVNS protocol is set at a pulse width of 500 µs and a frequency of 25 Hz, with an intensity value of 0.1 mA. The stimulation is to be carried out for a total of 1.5 hours daily, with the sessions divided into three parts, each lasting 30 minutes. At least one of these periods occur within 2 hours before bedtime. The study will use the Chinese National Institutes for Food and Drug Control certificated taVNS device TVNS-100 (Xinzhile Medical Technology Co., Jiangxi, China). The study includes an intervening period of 4 weeks.

Primary outcomes

  1. the recruitment rate

    Time frame: The time frame for the recruitment rate is 12 months after the intervention begins.

    The recruitment rate refers to the number of eligible individuals screened.

  2. the enrollment rate

    Time frame: The time frame for the enrollment rate is 12 months after the intervention begins.

    The the enrollment rate refers to the proportion of eligible patients who consent to participate.

  3. the retention rate

    Time frame: The time frame for the retention rate spans from baseline to 4 weeks after ET.

    The retention rate refers to the proportion of enrolled individuals who do not withdraw from the intervention.

  4. the patient adherence

    Time frame: The time frame for patient adherence spans from baseline to 4 weeks after ET.

    The patient adherence refers to the proportion of patients who complete the intervention.

Secondary outcomes

  1. the total number of oocytes retrieved

    Time frame: On the day of oocyte retrieval

  2. high-quality embryo rate

    Time frame: On the day of embryo transfer (day 14)

  3. the positive rate of hCG

    Time frame: The positive rate of hCG will also be observed two weeks after ET

    The hCG level, specifically defined as >10 mIU/mL, is an important indicator of pregnancy success.

  4. Clinical Pregnancy Rate

    Time frame: The primary efficacy outcome of the study is to measure and compare the difference in CPR among three groups 4 weeks after ET.

    Description: The clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) is a measure used in reproductive medicine to evaluate the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. It is defined as the percentage of women who achieve a clinical pregnancy from the first fresh or frozen embryo transfer cycle. A clinical pregnancy is confirmed by ultrasound and is characterized by the presence of a gestational sac within the uterine cavity, as observed 4 weeks after the embryo transfer has taken place.

  5. The Fertility Quality of Life Scale (FertiQoL, Simplified Chinese version)

    Time frame: The scale will be observed at baseline, the day of embryo transfer (day 14) and 2 weeks after embryo transfer.

    The Fertility Quality of Life Scale yields six subscale and three total scores with a range of 0 to 100. Higher scores mean higher quality of life and a better outcome.

  6. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

    Time frame: The scale and questionnaire measurement will be observed at baseline, the day of embryo transfer (day 14) and 2 weeks after embryo transfer.

    The total score range of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is from 0 to 21. Higher scores mean poorer sleep quality and a worse outcome.

  7. 14-item Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA-14)

    Time frame: The scale and questionnaire measurement will be observed at baseline, the day of embryo transfer (day 14) and 2 weeks after embryo transfer.

    The total score range of the 14-item Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA-14) is from 0 to 56. Higher scores mean more severe anxiety and a worse outcome.

  8. 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17)

    Time frame: The scale and questionnaire measurement will be observed at baseline, the day of embryo transfer (day 14) and 2 weeks after embryo transfer.

    The total score range of the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) is from 0 to 68. Higher scores mean more severe depression and a worse outcome.

Study contacts

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

Xiaofei Fei

CONTACT

[email protected]

+8613822311264

Yonghong Liu

CONTACT

[email protected]

+8629-84771377

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Xijing Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Feasibility of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Pregnancy Outcomes of Infertility Patients Undergoing in Vitro Fertilization: Study Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Dec 19, 2024
Registry last updated
Jul 2, 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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