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Embryo Transfer Timing in IVF for Patients with Few Embryos

This study is for women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) who have five or fewer embryos. Researchers want to understand if transferring embryos at an earlier stage (cleavage-stage, or 8-cell stage) leads to better outcomes compared to transferring them at a later, more developed stage (blastocyst-stage). Currently, there isn't clear evidence for the best timing in this specific situation. You might be able to join if you are a woman between 18 and 44 years old, are having your first IVF cycle using your own eggs, and have 5 or fewer embryos. The main goal is to see how many live births occur per IVF cycle, measured 9 months after embryo transfer. This study is actively recruiting participants.

Study design
This study will randomly assign 1126 participants to either the 8-cell embryo transfer group or the blastocyst transfer group. This means you will have an equal chance of being in either group.
What's involved
Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your live birth outcome will be measured 9 months after your embryo transfer.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06746129

Cleavage-stage Versus Blastocyst-stage Embryo Transfer in IVF Patients With Few Embryos

Recruiting
PHASE3Ages 18–44InterventionalTreatment
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
~1,126 participants
Updated 2026-04-02 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:embryo transfer

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
cumulative live birth per IVF cycle
Measured over month 9 after embryo transfer

Conditions

Infertility (IVF Patients)

Explore related trials

Infertility

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Massachusetts1

Study leadership

  • Werner Neuhausser, MD PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School
  • Dustin Rabideau, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Massachusetts General Hospital

Who to contact

Beatrice Duvert
[email protected]
617-975-7632
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

autologous IVF cycle
≤5 zygotes on day 1 of development
Fresh embryo transfer

Exclusion

Planned preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) of all embryos
More than 2 previous IVF cycles
History of recurrent pregnancy loss (≥3)
Body mass index \>40
Presence of uterine factor infertility
Planned gestational carrier
Endometrial lining \<6mm measured on the day of trigger
Lupron-only trigger, elevated progesterone in the fresh cycle (≥1.5ng/ml)
Delayed fertilization (\>18 hours)
Rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection (following failed regular fertilization)
Use of non-ejaculated sperm (testicular sperm extraction)
Embryo transfer number outside American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) guidelines
Cycle is converted to a cycle in which all embryos are frozen

What this trial measures

  • cumulative live birth per IVF cyclemonth 9 after embryo transfer

    the number of live births resulting from transfer of all embryos obtained from one egg retrieval