Not yet recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

The Impact of Having a Tattoo on Fertility Treatment Outcome

This study is looking into whether having tattoos affects the success of fertility treatments like IVF. Tattoos are very popular, but we don't fully understand if they have any impact on the body that might affect getting pregnant. Researchers want to observe women undergoing IVF to see if there's a link between their tattoos – including how many they have, how big they are, how long they've had them, and the type of ink – and their chances of becoming pregnant after an embryo transfer. This is an observational study, meaning researchers will simply watch and collect information, not give any new treatments. The main goal is to see if tattoos are connected to a successful ongoing pregnancy.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Sponsor

McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre

Enrolment target

328

Start

10 Feb 2026

Estimated completion

28 Jan 2031

Infertility Assisted Reproductive Technology Outcomes

What is this study about?

This research is exploring a very common question: could having tattoos affect fertility treatment? More and more women of childbearing age have tattoos, but we don't know much about whether they can influence how your body reacts to things like IVF. Some people wonder if the ink or the process of getting a tattoo might cause a small reaction in the body, which could potentially impact pregnancy.

This study aims to find out if there's a connection between tattoos and the success rates of IVF. Researchers will gather information about the tattoos women have – their size, how long they've had them, and what kind of ink was used. Then, they will simply observe these women as they go through IVF treatment and see if there are any differences in their chances of becoming pregnant, having a healthy ongoing pregnancy, or other results like miscarriage or live birth.

The study is being done at a single medical centre and will follow women through their IVF journey. It's a way for scientists to learn more about the potential real-world effects of tattoos on fertility, helping to fill an important gap in our knowledge.

Key takeaways

This study investigates if tattoos affect IVF success rates.
It's an observational study, so no new treatments will be given.
Researchers will collect information on tattoos and track pregnancy outcomes.
The primary aim is to see if tattoos influence ongoing pregnancy rates after IVF.
Participation involves answering questions and allowing access to your medical records.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this study, you need to be a woman between 21 and 40 years old who is going through IVF treatment. You must be planning to have an embryo transferred, whether it's a fresh or frozen one, and there needs to be good quality embryos available for your treatment. Also, you must be willing to give your informed consent, which means you understand what the study involves and agree to take part.

There are certain reasons why you might not be able to join the study. For example, if you have significant unaddressed problems with your womb, or if you've already had three or more unsuccessful embryo transfers. You also can't take part if you have a condition called hydrosalpinx (a blocked and swollen fallopian tube) or if your Body Mass Index (BMI) is over 40.

Other reasons you might not be eligible include being over 41 years old when your embryos were created, having certain types of growths in your womb called submucosal fibroids, or if you're taking medications that are known to affect how an embryo implants, such as long-term steroids or metformin.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a woman between 21 and 40 years old?
Are you currently undergoing IVF with a planned embryo transfer?
Do you have good-quality embryos available for transfer?
Do you have no significant unaddressed problems with your womb?
Have you had fewer than 3 unsuccessful embryo transfers before?
Is your Body Mass Index (BMI) not over 40 kg/m²?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you won't be given any new medications or treatments. This is an observational study, which means researchers will simply collect information about you and your IVF journey. You'll be asked to fill out a questionnaire about your tattoos, including details like where they are, how big they are, how long you've had them, and the colours of ink used. Some direct measurements of your tattoos might also be taken.

The researchers will then follow your medical records to track your pregnancy outcomes after your embryo transfer. This includes whether you become pregnant, have a clinical pregnancy (where a heartbeat is seen), a biochemical pregnancy, a miscarriage, an ectopic pregnancy, and ultimately, a live birth. You won't have extra visits specifically for the study; all information will be gathered from your regular clinic appointments and medical charts. The total duration of your participation will cover your IVF cycle and follow-up until your pregnancy outcome is known.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study involves very minimal risks, as you won't be given any new treatments or procedures. The main involvement is answering questions about your tattoos and allowing researchers to look at your medical records. The potential benefit is contributing valuable information to help us better understand factors that might affect IVF success, which could help future patients. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

MUHC Reproductive Centre
Verified postcode
Montreal, Canada

Common questions

Will taking part in this study change my IVF treatment?

No, this study is observational, meaning it will not change your IVF medication or treatment plan in any way.

Do I need to have tattoos to be in the study?

No, women with or without tattoos can participate. Researchers are comparing outcomes for both groups.

What kind of information will be collected about my tattoos?

You'll be asked about the presence, size, age, and ink characteristics of your tattoos through a questionnaire and possibly direct measurement.

Will my information be kept private?

Yes, all your personal and medical information will be kept confidential and used only for research purposes.

What is the main thing the study hopes to find out?

The main goal is to see if there's a link between having tattoos and the likelihood of achieving an ongoing pregnancy after IVF.

How to find out more

michael haim dahan, MD

thedoctormichaeldahan@gmail.com +14389907707 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.