Scientists have hypothesized that very early exposures to environmental chemicals (including disinfection by-products (DBP) and bis-phenol-A (BPA)) may have both short-term and long-term health effects on growth and development. Previous studies have been limited by a couple’s inability to recall exposure to chemicals at the time of conception and during pregnancy. By identifying the date that pregnancy started, scientists can help determine when testing should occur during pregnancy in order to match important developmental milestones. Methods exist to determine the most fertile day using lab tests, but they are expensive and not practical for long-term use. The Home Observation of Periconceptional Exposures (HOPE) Study will use a novel and simple method for determining ovulation/conception near the time that it occurs, known as the Peak Day method.

If you are a couple (women 18-35 years and men 18-40 years) planning to conceive with no history of infertility or medical conditions likely to cause sub-fertility and live within an hour’s drive from the study center (University of Utah), you may be eligible to participate in the HOPE Study. Participants will be provided with materials to learn a simple method for fertility tracking and receive compensation for their time. There are no blood draws or clinic visits.

Visit us at http://medicine.utah.edu/dfpm/OCRH/HOPE/ for more information!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

HOPE Study Up and Running

We received IRB approval to begin recruiting couples for the HOPE study on December 18th, 2011 and our  website went live yesterday. We already have two couples who have joined. If you are hoping to become pregnant soon and wish to learn a simple method of fertility tracking, visit our HOPE website to find out more and to be directed to our eligibility questionnaires. There are no clinic visits or blood draws and participants will receive compensation for their time. Two couples have already enrolled. We hope to enroll 298 more!
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