Clinical trials

Through participation in various clinical trials, the physicians and scientists at Shady Grove Fertility continually strive to stay at the forefront of research and technology—to advance medical knowledge and improve patient care. Clinical trials are research studies that investigate whether a medical strategy or treatment approach is safe and effective. They also provide invaluable insights into which strategies and treatments work best. At Shady Grove Fertility, we follow strict scientific protocols to ensure patient safety and help produce reliable study results.

We encourage our patients to learn more about our ongoing trials, as they offer unique advantages, including, in some cases, free or discounted access to new treatments before they’re widely available. If you choose to participate in a clinical trial, you may receive the new approach being tested. At Shady Grove Fertility, as always, you will have the support of your physician and health care team.

Find a Doctor Near You
Discover how we can partner with you to help overcome infertility.
Find a Doctor

Active clinical trials and research studies 

Multi-center, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial of modified natural verses programmed cycles for frozen embryo transfers and their association with preeclampsia and live births. Shady Grove Fertility is currently seeking patients to participate in a fertility research study designed to compare two protocols commonly used for frozen embryo transfer. The two protocols are called “modified natural cycle” and “programmed cycle”. The study will examine whether or not there is a difference in occurrence of high blood pressure during pregnancy.

You may be eligible for the study if you:

  • Age 18-41 years at the time of randomization
  • Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) ≤ 40
  • Have a regular menstrual cycle of 24 to 35 days

Participants will be compensated for their time and effort up to $1415 if they complete all visits and participate in the research study.

Please contact your physician, nurse or our clinical research team to determine if you are eligible to participate at 301-545-1423 or [email protected].

Shady Grove Fertility is conducting the ARIAS Research study to evaluate whether sperm DNA fragmentation is associated with IVF-ICSI outcomes. DNA fragmentation testing of sperm will be provided to participants free of charge.

You may qualify to participate if you and your partner meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Planning to use fresh (not previously frozen) sperm
  • Have never been told your partner has no sperm on semen analysis
  • No history of chromosomal abnormalities in yourself or your partner
  • No history of a varicocele in your partner
  • No current tobacco use by you or your partner

Please contact your physician, nurse or our clinical research team to determine if you are eligible to participate at 301-545-1423 or [email protected].

Shady Grove Fertility is currently seeking women to participate in a research study by donating a blood sample that will help to evaluate a new laboratory test that measures Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH). AMH is present in all individuals and has been shown to be important in assessing fertility.

Those that volunteer to participate in this study and qualify per the study doctor will be compensated for their time.

You may be eligible for this study if you:
  • Are a female between the ages of 22 and 45
  • Have a BMI less than 40 kg/m 2
  • Have both ovaries present
To learn more:
  • Please contact the SGF Research Team at 301-545-1423
  • Email our research team at [email protected].

Shady Grove Fertility is partnering with the University of California San Francisco to conduct the UCSF ASPIRE research study. This study looks at the implications of COVID-19 exposure during pregnancy and to promote the health and safety of pregnant women and their babies everywhere. UCSF ASPIRE seeks to collect data on pregnancies during this unprecedented pandemic, starting from the earliest stages of fetal development. Any pregnant women between 4-10 weeks gestation is eligible to enroll in the UCSF ASPIRE study.

To participate or learn more, please visit https://aspire.ucsf.edu or email your contact information to [email protected], and a study coordinator will be in touch regarding enrollment for the UCSF ASPIRE study.

Are you female between the ages of 18 to 40? Have you had a cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment? If so, the Reproductive Window Study needs you! The research team at Shady Grove Fertility, in collaboration with the researchers at UC San Diego, want to know how cancer treatment affects the reproductive health of young adult female cancer survivors. Participants will be followed for 18 months and asked to complete study activities at FOUR specific time points. Participants will receive a $10 gift card after completing each study activity.

If you are interested in learning more about this study, please visit www.youngcancersurvivor.com or contact us at 858-822-0768 or [email protected].

Shady Grove Fertility is conducting the Synchrony research study to evaluate whether individualized timing of embryo transfer is superior compared to standard timing of embryo transfer. Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) and endometrial receptivity analysis (ERA) will be provided to participants free of charge. You may qualify to participate if you meet the following eligibility criteria.

  • Female age between 30 and 40 years
  • Body mass index <40 kg/m2 at screening
  • Normal uterine cavity
  • No history of recurrent pregnancy loss, defined as two or more clinical pregnancy losses without live birth
  • Having ≥ 1 euploid embryo available for embryo transfer

Shady Grove Fertility is seeking couples to participate in a fertility research study designed to compare the success of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure including the number of high-quality embryos. Sperm will be prepared with a standard IVF sperm preparation protocol and with an investigational protocol using the Ohana IVF sperm preparation kit. You may be eligible for the study if you:

  • Are between 25 to 37 years old
  • Have a BMI of 21-35 kg/m2
  • Have regular menstrual cycle of 25 to 35 days
  • History of infertility ≥ 12 months
  • Do not have history of recurrent pregnancy loss (more than 2)

All qualified study participants will undergo an IVF cycle with preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) and frozen embryo transfer (FET). Some of the study related procedures and visits will be provided at no charge or a discounted rate. Participants may be responsible for paying a portion of the IVF cycle fees. If so, the study center/clinic will review these costs with you in detail.

Shady Grove Fertility is participating in a fertility research study designed to evaluate if proteins secreted by a developing embryo correlate with in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes or aneuploidy.

Shady Grove Fertility is conducting the SUSTAIN research study to evaluate vaginal progesterone for frozen embryo transfer (FET). Patients with an upcoming FET may be eligible to participate in this study.

HEART-IVF (Vascular HEAlth afteR In Virto Fertilization)
We are inviting women to participate in a research study trying to understand why women may go on to develop high blood pressure after a pregnancy with IVF.
 
ELIGIBILITY

  • Age 18 – 45 years
  • Prior pregnancy within past 1 – 5 years, conceived through IVF
  • Not currently taking medications to treat high blood pressure or cholesterol
  • Not currently pregnant or wishing to become pregnant in the next 3 months

 
If interested, complete the optional eligibility survey: https://redcap.link/vfd7htql
Compensation provided

How to get started

Shady Grove Fertility has treatment options to help almost everyone build the family of their dreams. And it all starts with one call:

2021 Shady Grove Fertility