Clinical Trial: The Effect of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) Treatment on Affective Symptoms and Fertility Treatment Outcome in Women Undergoing in Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

Study Status: Active, not recruiting
Recruit Status: Unknown status
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: The Effect of SSRI Treatment on Affective Symptoms and Fertility Treatment Outcome in Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization for Unexplained Infertility - a Prospective P

Brief Summary: Women undergoing IVF show a high prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, stress has harmful consequences on IVF and pregnancy outcomes. An immunological cascade was suggested to be involved in the process. Treatment in this setting is usually psychotherapy rather than pharmacotherapy, despite reasonable biological evidence suggesting beneficial influence of antidepressant therapy on pregnancy and well-being. Moreover, pharmacotherapy is more available and affordable than psychotherapy in the public health system. The investigators suggest to study the efficacy of antidepressant treatment in women undergoing IVF treatment, presenting with mild mood symptoms. The investigators hypothesize that treatment will result in a greater attenuation of affective symptoms, as well as in higher pregnancy success rates. Furthermore, certain immunological stress-reactive factors, may prove to be the biological mechanism underlying these effects.

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center

Current Primary Outcome: positive blood βHCG [ Time Frame: 2 months from date of signing informed consent ]

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome: psychiatric evaluation questionnaires [ Time Frame: 2 months ]

Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center

Dates:
Date Received: October 1, 2009
Date Started: January 2010
Date Completion: January 2012
Last Updated: October 1, 2009
Last Verified: October 2009