Effect of low-molecular-weight heparin on pregnancy outcomes in Chinese women with recurrent implantation failure undergoing frozen embryo transfer: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Introduction: The incidence of recurrent implantation failure (RIF) can reach up to 10% among patients undergoing in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer worldwide. However, the clinical efficacy of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in RIF remains a subject of controversy. Currently, there is a lack of high-quality clinical research validating the effectiveness of LMWH in treating patients with RIF, particularly during frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Therefore, this randomised controlled trial aimed to investigate the impact of LMWH on pregnancy outcomes in women with RIF undergoing FET.

Methods and analysis: This prospective, single-centre, double-blind randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial will be conducted in the Second Hospital of Shandong University, China. A total of 414 women with RIF, aged ≤40 years, who are undergoing FET cycles will be recruited and randomly assigned to the study group (LMWH) or the control group (placebo). Only one blastocyst which is from day 5 or day 6 and has a Gardner morphology score ≥4 BC will be transferred. LMWH 4000-6000 IU per day or placebo will be administered by subcutaneous injection from the day of transplantation. The primary outcome is the live birth rate. The secondary outcomes include the clinical pregnancy rate, biochemical pregnancy rate, embryo implantation rate, early miscarriage rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, ectopic pregnancy rate, pregnancy-related complications, perinatal complications, fetal birth weight, congenital malformations and other adverse reactions.

Ethics and dissemination: The protocol received approval from the Ethics Committee of the Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University (KYLL-2023-442). The findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications.

Trial registration number: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2400083577.