Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42552004›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2026

Multicentre randomised comparative effectiveness trial of cleavage-stage versus blastocyst-stage embryo transfer in patients with few embryos (PRECISE): implementation of a study protocol in reproductive medicine.

Werner M Neuhausser, Denis A Vaughan, Denny Sakkas, Alan Penzias, Raymond M Anchan, Mark D Hornstein, Harrison T Reeder, Kurt T Barnhart, Elizabeth A Stewart, Marcelle Cedars and 16 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06746129 (Day 3 Versus Day 5 Embryo Transfer in IVF Patients With Few Embryos), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06746129 phase3recruitingnot on this map

Day 3 Versus Day 5 Embryo Transfer in IVF Patients With Few Embryos

TypeinterventionalSponsorBeth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterRan2025 to 2031Enrolled1,126ConditionsInfertility (IVF Patients)Armsembryo transfer
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

26 authors.

Werner M NeuhausserOBGYN, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA wneuhaus@bidmc.harvard.edu.ORCID 0000-0002-5092-2658
Denis A VaughanOBGYN, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Denny SakkasResearch, Boston IVF, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA.
Alan PenziasDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Raymond M AnchanDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Mark D HornsteinDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Harrison T ReederBiostatistics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Kurt T BarnhartDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Elizabeth A StewartDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Marcelle CedarsDepartment of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Cihan HalicigilDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Hugh S TaylorDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Michelle BeckClinical Research Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Michele R HackerObstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Erica MarshDivision of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Clarisa R GraciaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Zev RosenwaksThe Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA.
Zev WilliamsColumbia University Fertility Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
Dustin J RabideauBiostatistics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Steering Committee and Study Investigators of the PRECISE Trial
Executive Committee and Study Investigators of the PRECISE Trial
Protocol Committee and Study Investigators of the PRECISE Trial
Stakeholder Advisory Group and Study Investigators of the PRECISE Trial
Data and Safety Monitoring Board and Study Investigators of the PRECISE Trial
Communications and Branding Committee and Study Investigators of the PRECISE Trial
Publication Committee and Study Investigators of the PRECISE Trial

Funding

Targeted Awareness and Education on Options in Uterine FibroidsP50HD115283 · NICHD · MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER · PI Sateria Venable · 2024 to 2026
$6.1M
REST/NRSF, miRNAs, and tissue remodeling in adenomyosis pathophysiologyR01HD105714 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER · PI CHENNATHUKUZHI, VARGHEESE MANI, NOTHNICK, WARREN B · 2021 to 2025
$3.1M
Early Double Low-Dose Aspirin to Reduce Preeclampsia and Miscarriage: a Global Approach RCTR01HD112308 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI Kurt T Barnhart, Enrique F. Schisterman · 2023 to 2026
$2.7M
Long Term Effectiveness of Uterine Sparing Fibroid TreatmentsR01HD109127 · NICHD · HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM · PI Vanessa Jacoby, Wanda K Nicholson · 2023 to 2026
$2.4M
NICHD NIH HHS P50 HD115283NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD105714NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD109127NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD112308
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWith improvements in in vitro culture techniques, there has been a steady shift in practice to transfer in vitro fertilisation (IVF) embryos at the blastocyst-stage to increase pregnancy rates per embryo transfer (ET) and reduce the risk of multiple pregnancy. In patients with fewer embryos (≤5 zygotes), fresh cleavage-stage ET is still commonly performed to reduce the risk of cycle cancellation if no embryo survives to the blastocyst-stage in vitro. However, evidence for improved outcomes with cleavage-stage embryo transfer in this subgroup of patients is lacking. We will compare blastocyst-stage to cleavage-stage ET with regard to cumulative live birth rates (CLBR) per oocyte retrieval and other patient-centred cycle outcomes in patients with ≤5 zygotes. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Multicentre, randomised pragmatic comparative effectiveness trial with superiority design comparing blastocyst-stage to cleavage-stage ET in patients with ≤5 zygotes. This trial will enrol and randomise 1126 women aged 18-44 undergoing IVF to either fresh cleavage-stage or blastocyst-stage ET at eleven IVF centres. Surplus embryos will be vitrified at the blastocyst-stage. The primary outcome is the CLBR per oocyte retrieval. Secondary outcomes include: multiple pregnancy, pregnancy loss <20 weeks and cycle cancellation. Exploratory outcomes include: live birth per fresh ET, ectopic pregnancy, time to pregnancy, stillbirth, preterm birth, financial burden, patient distress and facilitators and barriers for patient involvement and implementation. All primary analyses will be conducted according to the intent-to-treat principle. We also will report per-protocol analyses as a sensitivity analysis. A multidisciplinary stakeholder team, including a 5-patient stakeholder panel, will participate in study design, conduct and oversight. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The Institutional Review Board at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) provides central regulatory oversight. Results will inform timing of embryo transfer in patients with ≤5 zygotes and will be disseminated through academic publications, meeting presentations and communications to advocacy groups and patient participants. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT06746129.

Indexed as

BlastocystCleavage Stage, OvumEmbryo TransferFertilization in VitroAdolescentAdultEquivalence Trials as TopicFemaleHumansLive BirthMulticenter Studies as TopicOocyte RetrievalPragmatic Clinical Trials as TopicPregnancyPregnancy RateRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicEmbryologyRandomized Controlled TrialREPRODUCTIVE MEDICINESubfertility

Identifiers

PMID42552004
PMCPMC13479505

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.