Aromatherapy to support mental health in women undergoing IVF

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This randomized, controlled trial will enroll 120 women on the IVF waiting list at Hospital das Clínicas da UFMG and randomize them to true lavender essential oil inhalation, a synthetic lavender placebo inhalation, or routine care. The active and placebo groups will use a personal nasal inhaler with five drops, inhaling for 15 minutes twice daily over four weeks. Outcomes include validated measures for anxiety, depression, stress (DASS-21), fertility-related quality of life (FertiQoL), insomnia (ISI), human flourishing, religiosity, pain VAS, general health (GHQ-12), and a qualitative questionnaire at baseline, week 4, and week 8. The protocol excludes patients with severe psychiatric or medical disorders, recent essential oil use, pregnancy, known lavender allergy, or recent use of psychoactive medications.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Female gender, age over 18 years.
* Diagnosis of infertility with indication for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
* Patients on the waiting list at HC-UFMG.
* Agreement not to practice other mind-body or herbal complementary therapies during the study.
* DASS-21 screening score compatible with at least mild anxiety, stress, and/or depression.
* No aversion to inhaling essential oil or synthetic lavender essence.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Severe neurological, psychiatric, or clinical disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, severe depression) that prevent participation.
* Use of medications that could confound the primary outcome (e.g., sleep medications, anxiolytics, antidepressants, neuroleptics) in the 30 days prior to or during the study.
* Known allergy to lavender products.
* Pregnancy during the study period.
* Use of essential oils in the last 90 days.

Where it's running

• Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Federal University of Minas Gerais - Brazil
  Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Jhenifer K Rodrigues, PhD — POTENTIA - Technical, therapeutic, and human development consulting and advisory services
• Study coordinator: Rubens L C Tavares, MD, PhD
• Email: rubens.ufmg@gmail.com
• Phone: +55 31 3409-9764

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.