The Impact of Having a Tattoo on Fertility Treatment Outcome
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Infertility, Assisted Reproductive Technology Outcomes. Basic parameters: 21 years — 40 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Canada
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
The Impact of Having a Tattoo on Fertility Treatment Outcome: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
Overview
Tattoos are increasingly common among women of reproductive age, yet their potential systemic inflammatory effects and impact on fertility treatment outcomes are unknown. This prospective observational cohort study aims to evaluate whether the presence, size, duration, and ink characteristics of tattoos are associated with pregnancy outcomes following embryo transfer in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Detailed description
This is a single-center, prospective observational cohort study conducted at the McGill University Health Centre Reproductive Centre. Women undergoing IVF with planned fresh or frozen blastocyst embryo transfer will be enrolled and categorized based on tattoo presence and characteristics. Tattoo information will be collected using a standardized questionnaire and direct measurement. Participants will be followed for pregnancy and obstetric outcomes through medical chart review. The primary outcome is ongoing pregnancy rate following embryo transfer. Secondary outcomes include clinical pregnancy, biochemical pregnancy, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and live birth.
Primary outcome measures
- Ongoing Pregnancy Rate [Time frame: 12 weeks gestation]
Secondary outcome measures (5)
- Clinical pregnancy rate [Time frame: 6-8 weeks of gestation]
- Biochemical pregnancy [Time frame: 4-5 weeks of gestation]
- Miscarriage rate [Time frame: before the 20th week of pregnancy]
- Ectopic pregnancy rate [Time frame: upto 10 weeks of gestation]
- Live birth rate [Time frame: over 23 weeks of gestation]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
Women aged 21-40 years Undergoing IVF with planned fresh or frozen blastocyst embryo transfer Availability of good-quality blastocyst embryos Willingness to provide informed consent
Exclusion criteria
Significant untreated uterine abnormalities
≥3 prior failed embryo transfers Hydrosalpinx in situ BMI >40 kg/m² Age >41 years at embryo creation Submucosal fibroids in situ Use of medications affecting implantation (e.g., chronic steroids, metformin)
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
Canada · 1 center
- MUHC Reproductive Centre — Montreal
Publications
- Xie J, Yan L, Cheng Z, Qiang L, Yan J, Liu Y, Liang R, Zhang J, Li Z, Zhuang L, Hao C, Wang B, Lu Q. Potential effect of inflammation on the failure risk of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer among infertile women. Hum Fertil (Camb). 2020 Sep;23(3):214-222. doi: 10.1080/14647273.2018.1543898. Epub 2018 Nov 27. PMID 30477363
- Mukherjee N, Sharma R, Modi D. Immune alterations in recurrent implantation failure. Am J Reprod Immunol. 2023 Feb;89(2):e13563. doi: 10.1111/aji.13563. Epub 2022 May 29. PMID 35587052
- Islam PS, Chang C, Selmi C, Generali E, Huntley A, Teuber SS, Gershwin ME. Medical Complications of Tattoos: A Comprehensive Review. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2016 Apr;50(2):273-86. doi: 10.1007/s12016-016-8532-0. PMID 26940693
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07405879 · 2026-11525