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Infertility, FemaleNCT06124950

A Couple-based Gender-transformative Intervention on IPV Against Infertile Women

A study testing Gender-transformative intervention in people with Infertility, Female and Violence, Domestic, run by Peking University Third Hospital at 2 sites in China.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

This is a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial conducted at two reproductive medicine centers in Beijing, China. Couples undergoing their first or second in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle, diagnosed with female-factor infertility, and who have signed informed… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Infertility, Female, Violence, Domestic
What is being tested?
Gender-transformative intervention
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
752 participants
Where
2 sitesChina
Study dates
25 Jun 2024to Jul 2026
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Couples who are undergoing their first or second IVF/ICSI cycle;
  • Couples diagnosed with female-factor infertility;
  • Couples who have signed consent.

Who cannot join

  • Couples who receive donated oocytes, sperm, or embryos;
  • Couples diagnosed with severe male-factor infertility or unexplained infertility.
  • Couples who are undergoing Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT);
  • Couples who have not undergone embryo transfer within six months after oocyte retrieval;
  • Couples who have severe mental disorders;
  • Couples who withdrew from the study.

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

China2 sites, 2 recruiting
  • Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital

    Beijing

    Xiaokui Yang, Dr, +8613718193183

    Ying Fang, Dr, +8613552326071

    Not yet recruiting
  • Peking University Third Hospital

    Beijing

    Yu Fu, MS, +8613521777668, annyfy0417@gmail.com

    Recruiting

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: A Couple-based Gender-transformative Intervention on Intimate Partner Violence Against Infertile Women

This is a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial conducted at two reproductive medicine centers in Beijing, China. Couples undergoing their first or second in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle, diagnosed with female-factor infertility, and who have signed informed consent will be enrolled. Exclusion criteria include couples receiving donated oocytes, sperm, or embryos; those diagnosed with severe male-factor infertility or unexplained infertility; those undergoing preimplantation genetic testing (PGT); those who have not undergone embryo transfer within six months after oocyte retrieval; those with severe mental disorders; and those who withdraw from the study.

Participants are will randomly allocated 1:1 by center to either the intervention or control group. Couples in the intervention group will receive five 60-minutes GTI sessions focusing on gender norms, gender equality, and healthy relationship skills, conducted by trained healthcare providers and social workers. The control group will receive standard reproductive care. A total of 376 infertile couples will be enrolled (188 couples per group).

The primary outcome is the IPV rate against infertile women over the past 12 months.

Read the detailed description

Infertility and intimate partner violence (IPV) are significant challenges in sexual and reproductive health, with a notable intersection as infertile women face higher IPV risks. However, the needs of infertile couples have been largely overlooked, and the effectiveness of gender-transformative interventions (GTIs) designed to challenge gender inequality and question gender norms in reducing IPV against infertile women has not been evaluated.

This is a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial conducted at two reproductive medicine centers in Beijing, China (the Centers for Reproductive Medicine of Peking University Third Hospital and Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital).

A multidisciplinary team of experts, including 8-10 experts in reproductive medicine, nursing, social work, psychiatry, family law, and evidence-based medicine, will be established to support the development of the intervention. Five 60-minutes GTI sessions will be delivered by trained nurses and social workers throughout participants' fertility treatment cycle. Intervention will be carried out at the 4 critical windows of opportunity for infertility treatment: (1) before entering the cycle; (2) during follicular monitoring; (3) the oocyte retrieval-embryo transfer phase; (4) 2 weeks after the embryo transfer (hCG pregnancy test), and (5) 28-30 days after the embryo transfer. The intervention components will equip couples with educational information on health and relationship and skills obtained from interactive activities designed with an explicit focus on challenging gender stereotypes, all of which could incite reflection on sociocultural norms and gender-related power inequality.

Participants are will randomly allocated 1:1 by center to either the intervention or control group. Couples in the intervention group will receive GTI sessions. The control group will receive standard reproductive care. A total of 376 infertile couples will be enrolled (188 couples per group).

Being tested
Gender-transformative intervention
Medical subject headings
Infertility, Female

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Gender-transformative interventionBehavioural

    A multidisciplinary team of experts, including 8-10 experts in reproductive medicine, nursing, social work, psychiatry, family law, and evidence-based medicine, will be established to support the development of the intervention.

    Five 60-minutes intervention sessions will be delivered by trained nurses and social workers throughout participants' fertility treatment cycle. Intervention will be carried out at the 5 critical windows of opportunity for infertility treatment: (1) before entering the cycle; (2) during follicular monitoring; (3) before oocyte retrieval; and (4) 2 weeks after the embryo transfer; and (5) 28-30 days after the embryo transfer.

    The intervention components will equip couples with educational information on health and relationship and skills obtained from interactive activities designed with an explicit focus on challenging gender stereotypes, all of which could incite reflection on sociocultural norms and gender-related power inequality.

Study groups in NCT06124950
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
GTI InterventionExperimentalParticipants in the intervention group will be provided with five GTI sessions (60-minutes/session) by trained nurses and social workers throughout participants' fertility treatment cycle throughout participants' fertility treatment cycle.
Receives: Behavioral: Gender-transformative intervention
Standard CareNo interventionParticipants in the intervention group will be provided with standard clinical procedures for assisted reproduction and health education.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Past-12-months Intimate Partner Violence against infertile women

    Past-12-months prevalence of IPV against infertile women measured using an instrument that combined the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS-2) and the Scale of Economic Abuse-12 (SEA-12).

    Respondents will be asked if they had experienced any specific acts of physical (6 items from CTS-2 injury subscale, 12 from CTS-2 physical assault subscale), psychological (8 items from CTS-2 psychological aggression subscale), sexual (7 items from CTS-2 sexual coercion subscale), or economic violence (12 items from SEA-12) in the past 12 months.

    The past-12-months prevalence of IPV is calculated as the proportion of participants reporting at least one act of violence in the past 12 months.

    Measured: T0 (Baseline) and T0 + ~14 months (4 weeks after delivery)

Secondary outcomes (22)
  1. Past-12-months Intimate Partner Violence against male partners

    Past-12-months prevalence of IPV against male partners measured using an instrument that combined the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS-2) and the Scale of Economic Abuse-12 (SEA-12).

    Respondents will be asked if they had experienced any specific acts of physical (6 items from CTS-2 injury subscale, 12 from CTS-2 physical assault subscale), psychological (8 items from CTS-2 psychological aggression subscale), sexual (7 items from CTS-2 sexual coercion subscale), or economic violence (12 items from SEA-12) in the past 12 months.

    The past-12-months prevalence of IPV is calculated as the proportion of participants reporting at least one act of violence in the past 12 months.

    Measured: T0 (Baseline) and T0 + ~14 months (4 weeks after delivery)

  2. Past-3-months Intimate Partner Violence against infertile women

    Past-3-months prevalence of IPV against infertile women measured using the World Health Organization Violence Against Women (WHO-VAW) Instrument.

    The WHO-VAW has 6 items asking if participants had experienced any specific acts of physical (1 item), sexual (1 item), and psychological (4 items) violence in the past 3 months.

    The past-3-months prevalence of IPV is calculated as the proportion of participants reporting at least one act of violence in the past 3 months.

    Measured: T0 (Baseline); T0 + ~2months (28-30 days after embryo transfer); T0 + ~4 months (12-13 weeks of gestation); T0 + ~12-14 months (4 weeks after delivery)

  3. Past-3-months Intimate Partner Violence against male partners

    Past-3-months prevalence of IPV against male partners measured using the World Health Organization Violence Against Women (WHO-VAW) Instrument.

    The WHO-VAW has 6 items asking if participants had experienced any specific acts of physical (1 item), sexual (1 item), and psychological (4 items) violence in the past 3 months.

    The past-3-months prevalence of IPV is calculated as the proportion of participants reporting at least one act of violence in the past 3 months.

    Measured: T0 (Baseline); T0 + ~2months (28-30 days after embryo transfer); T0 + ~4 months (12-13 weeks of gestation); T0 + ~12-14 months (4 weeks after delivery)

  4. Past-12-months Severe Intimate Partner Violence against infertile women

    Past-12-months prevalence of severe IPV against infertile women measured using an instrument that combined the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS-2) and the Scale of Economic Abuse-12 (SEA-12).

    Respondents will be asked if they had experienced any specific acts of physical (6 items from CTS-2 injury subscale, 12 from CTS-2 physical assault subscale), psychological (8 items from CTS-2 psychological aggression subscale), sexual (7 items from CTS-2 sexual coercion subscale), or economic violence (12 items from SEA-12) in the past 12 months.

    Severe IPV is defined as any reported instance of physical or sexual violence (regardless of frequency) and/or any psychological or economic violence ≥ 3 times in the past year.

    The past-12-months prevalence of severe IPV is calculated as the proportion of participants reporting at least one severe IPV in the past 12 months.

    Measured: T0 (Baseline) and T0 + ~14 months (4 weeks after delivery)

  5. Past-12-months severe Intimate Partner Violence against male partners

    Past-12-months prevalence of severe IPV against male partners measured using an instrument that combined the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS-2) and the Scale of Economic Abuse-12 (SEA-12).

    Respondents will be asked if they had experienced any specific acts of physical (6 items from CTS-2 injury subscale, 12 from CTS-2 physical assault subscale), psychological (8 items from CTS-2 psychological aggression subscale), sexual (7 items from CTS-2 sexual coercion subscale), or economic violence (12 items from SEA-12) in the past 12 months.

    Severe IPV is defined as any reported instance of physical or sexual violence (regardless of frequency) and/or any psychological or economic violence ≥ 3 times in the past year.

    The past-12-months prevalence of severe IPV is calculated as the proportion of participants reporting at least one severe IPV in the past 12 months.

    Measured: T0 (Baseline) and T0 + ~14 months (4 weeks after delivery)

  6. Attitudes toward male gender roles

    Attitudes toward male gender roles measured by the Male Role Attitudes Scale (MRAS) to assess infertile couples' attitudes towards traditional male role stereotypes.

    The MRAS has 8 items. Responses to the MRAS were based on a four-point Likert scale from 'strongly disagree=1' to 'strongly agree=4'. A total score was derived by totalling responses to each item, giving a possible score of 8-32, where higher scores indicate greater endorsement of traditional male role stereotypes.

    Measured: T0 (Baseline); T0 + ~2months (28-30 days after embryo transfer); T0 + ~4 months (12-13 weeks of gestation); T0 + ~12-14 months (4 weeks after delivery)

  7. Martial quality and satisfaction

    Martial quality and satisfaction measured by the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS).

    The RAS has 7 items. Responses to the RAS were based on a five-point Likert scale from 'low=1' to 'high=5'. Items 4 and 7 are reverse-scored. A total score was derived by totalling responses to each item, giving a possible score of 7-35. The higher the score, the more satisfied the respondent is with his/her relationship.

    Measured: T0 (Baseline); T0 + ~2months (28-30 days after embryo transfer); T0 + ~4 months (12-13 weeks of gestation); T0 + ~12-14 months (4 weeks after delivery)

  8. Couples' coping with stress

    Couples' coping with stress was measured by two items from the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI).

    Responses to the DCI were based on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 'strongly disagree = 1' to 'strongly agree = 5'.A total score was derived by totalling responses to each item, giving a possible score of 2-10. A higher score indicates couple's better dyadic coping with stress.

    Measured: T0 (Baseline); T0 + ~2months (28-30 days after embryo transfer); T0 + ~4 months (12-13 weeks of gestation); T0 + ~12-14 months (4 weeks after delivery)

  9. Patient satisfaction with infertility treatment

    Patient satisfaction was measured by one item from the patient satisfaction survey.

    Responses to this question were based on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 'strongly disagree = 1' to 'strongly agree = 5'. The score ranged from 1 to 5, with a higher score indicating greater satisfaction with the infertility treatment.

    Measured: T0 (Baseline); T0 + ~2months (28-30 days after embryo transfer); T0 + ~4 months (12-13 weeks of gestation); T0 + ~12-14 months (4 weeks after delivery)

  10. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) Positive

    Positive for Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (βhCG) in blood or urine after embryo transfer.

    Measured: T0 + ~1.5 months

  11. Clinical pregnancy

    One or more observed gestational sac or definitive clinical signs of pregnancy under ultrasonography at 28-30 days after embryo transfer (including clinically documented ectopic pregnancy).

    Measured: T0 + ~2 months (28-30 days after embryo transfer)

  12. Ongoing pregnancy

    Presence of a gestational sac and fetal heartbeat after 12 weeks of gestation.

    Measured: T0 + ~4 months (12 weeks after embryo transfer)

  13. Miscarriage

    Spontaneous loss of an intra-uterine pregnancy prior to 22 completed weeks of gestational age.

    Measured: 22 weeks of gestation

  14. Biochemical Pregnancy Loss

    Positive for hCG after embryo transfer, but no clinical pregnancy observed.

    Measured: T0 + 1.5-2 months

  15. Stillbirth

    Fetal death after 22 weeks of gestation, with no signs of life such as heartbeat, breathing, umbilical cord pulse, or voluntary muscle contraction.

    Measured: After 22 weeks of gestation

  16. Live birth

    A delivery of one or more living infants (≥22 weeks gestation or birth weight more than 1,000g).

    Measured: After 22 weeks of gestation

  17. Ectopic pregnancy

    Implantation takes place outside the uterine cavity, confirmed by sonography or laparoscopy.

    Measured: 7 weeks of gestation

  18. Cycle cancellation

    The cycle is considered canceled if any of the following situations occur from the ovarian stimulation to the embryo transfer:

    1. The researcher determines that by the 20th day of ovarian stimulation, there are not ≥2 follicles with a diameter of ≥18mm.
    2. Ultrasound reveals more than 25 follicles with a diameter of ≥12mm.
    3. No oocytes are retrieved on the egg retrieval day.
    4. No transferable embryos are available on the transfer day.
    5. Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) occurs during the ovarian stimulation process.
    6. The participant requests to cancel the cycle or the researcher cancels the cycle for other valid reasons.

    Measured: T0 + ~2 months

  19. Preterm birth

    Birth of a fetus delivered after 28 and before 37 completed weeks of gestational age in participants confirmed ongoing pregnancy.

    Measured: 28-37 weeks of pregnancy

  20. Birth weight

    The weight measured for the first time within the first hour after birth. High birth weight: ≥4kg; Low birth weight: < 2.5kg.

    Measured: Within the first hour after live birth

  21. Congenital anomaly

    Any congenital anomaly will be included, including structural or chromosomal abnormalities of the fetus in utero, Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), congenital heart disease, neural tube defects, cleft lip and palate, polydactyly, hydrocephalus, etc.

    Measured: Within 2 weeks after live birth

  22. Neonatal mortality

    Death of a live born baby within 28 days of birth

    Measured: Within 28 days of birth

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted9 Nov 2023
  2. Study start25 Jun 2024
  3. Primary completionJul 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completionJul 2026 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Screening
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
752 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06124950
Sponsor's protocol ID
M2023460
Status last verified
Aug 2024
First submitted
20 Oct 2023
Last updated
28 Aug 2024
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Given the nature of the study, individual participant data (IPD) will not be available to other researchers.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Gender-transformative intervention in people with Infertility, Female and Violence, Domestic, run by Peking University Third Hospital at 2 sites in China.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Aug 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Yu Fu, MS (+86 13521777668, annyfy0417@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Past-12-months Intimate Partner Violence against infertile women (time frame: T0 (Baseline) and T0 + ~14 months (4 weeks after delivery)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Aug 2024.

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