When to start hormones after stopping combined birth control for planned egg freezing
Official title: A Randomized Blinded Controlled Trial Assessing Hormonal Optimization: Late vs. Immediate Start After Discontinuation of Oral Contraceptives in Assisted Reproductive technologY (HOLIDAY)
Run by Shady Grove Fertility Reproductive Science Center · NCT07225660 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests whether taking a two-month break from combined hormonal birth control versus starting ovarian stimulation immediately affects outcomes for ovary-bearing people aged 18–40 who are planning to freeze their eggs.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 40 Years |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 394 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Shady Grove Fertility Reproductive Science Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 3 sites (Orange, Connecticut and 2 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 25, 2026 |
| Main results expected | June 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | July 1, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | March 2, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07225660 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ovary-bearing individuals aged 18–40 with BMI <40 kg/m2, who have been non-smokers for at least three months and are planning oocyte cryopreservation while using combined hormonal contraception are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People with BMI ≥40 kg/m2, current smokers, or those with contraindications to ovarian stimulation or outpatient egg retrieval under anesthesia are excluded and unlikely to benefit from participation.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
HOLIDAY is a multi-center, two-arm, parallel-group randomized trial comparing a 2-month pause from combined hormonal contraception (CHC) to immediate initiation of ovarian stimulation without a pause. Participants are ovary-bearing individuals aged 18–40 with BMI under 40 and who have not smoked for at least three months. Those randomized will undergo standard ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval according to clinic protocols, with outcomes related to stimulation response and oocyte yield collected. The trial is being run at three U.S. fertility centers and supported by an industry collaborator.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the trial could clarify the best timing to start stimulation after stopping CHC and potentially improve scheduling or egg-yield outcomes for people pursuing planned oocyte cryopreservation.
How similar studies have gone: Prior observational work suggests hormonal contraception timing can affect ovarian response, but randomized multicenter data on a fixed 2-month pause versus immediate start are limited, making this a relatively novel randomized comparison.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Ovary-bearing individuals 18 to 40 years of age. 2. BMI \< 40 kg/m2 3. Non-smoker for at least 3 months prior to study enrollment. Exclusion Criteria: 1. BMI greater than or equal to 40 kg/m2 2. Current Smoker 3. Any contraindications to ovarian stimulation or outpatient egg retrieval under anesthesia
Where it's running
-
Yale Fertility Center
Orange, Connecticut, United States Recruiting -
Shady Grove Fertility Rockville
Rockville, Maryland, United States Recruiting -
Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York
New York, New York, United States Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Tasha Newsome, Clinical Research Supervisor
- Email: Tasha.Newsome@sgfertility.com
- Phone: 301-545-1289
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Follicular Flushing During Abdominal Egg Retrieval in Women with Low Egg Reserve
This study tests whether rinsing the egg sacs during abdominal egg collection yields more eggs and more mature eggs for freezing in women with low ovarian reserve.
-
GnRH agonist versus dual hCG/GnRH trigger for ovulation induction in fertility preservation
We will test whether using a GnRH agonist alone or a dual trigger (GnRH agonist plus hCG) gives better egg retrieval numbers and safety for people with cancer doing egg freezing before gonadotoxic treatment.
-
Combining ovarian tissue freezing with egg (oocyte) freezing versus egg freezing alone
This research will test whether combining ovarian tissue freezing with egg freezing helps adult women with cancer preserve more fertility than egg freezing alone.
-
Long-term follow-up of fertility preservation in women after cancer remission
This project will see how fertility preservation options work long-term for women in remission from cancer or hematological disease, including how often preserved material is used and the psychological effects.
-
Fertility-preserving hysteroscopic treatment outcomes for endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia
This project tests whether removing lesions by hysteroscopy combined with hormonal therapy helps women with endometrial cancer or atypical hyperplasia preserve fertility and achieve good pregnancy and cancer-control outcomes.
-
Intranasal Nafarelin to Trigger Final Egg M maturation in Fertility Preservation
This trial tests whether intranasal nafarelin can trigger final oocyte maturation as effectively as subcutaneous triptorelin for women freezing oocytes for fertility preservation.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.