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Lavender scent inhalation for anxiety and low mood in women having IVF

Tests lavender oil inhalation for anxiety, stress and depression in women having IVF.

Key facts

Who runs it
Federal University of Minas Gerais
Where
Brazil1 site in 1 countryChoose a country to see its sites
Trial code
Registry title
Aromatherapy for Mental Health Promotion in IVF Patients
Status
Recruiting
People taking part
120 people, planned
Started
1 Mar 2026
Expected to end
Dec 2026
Type of study
Interventional, 3 groupsOne group gets a placebo (a dummy treatment), for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • Lavender essential oil Inhalation
  • Synthetic lavender aroma inhalation
Record updated
29 April 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for women with infertility who are waiting for IVF treatment at HC-UFMG and have at least mild anxiety, stress or depression. It tests breathing in lavender oil for four weeks.

Age
Over 18 years.
Sex
Women only.
Disease stage
Infertility with a plan for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). A DASS-21 screening score showing at least mild anxiety, stress and/or depression.
Earlier treatment
No sleep medications, anxiolytics, antidepressants or neuroleptics in the 30 days before the study. No essential oils in the last 90 days. Must agree not to use other mind-body or herbal therapies during the study.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Severe neurological, psychiatric or other medical disorders that prevent taking part, such as schizophrenia or severe depression.
  • Use of medicines that could affect the results, such as sleep or anxiety medicines or antidepressants.
  • Known allergy to lavender products.
  • Pregnancy during the study period.
  • Dislike of breathing in essential oil or synthetic lavender scent.

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 11 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • 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

Who cannot take part

  • 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
  • Severe neurological, psychiatric, or clinical disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, severe depression) that prevent participation
  • Known allergy to lavender products
  • Pregnancy during the study period
  • Use of essential oils in the last 90 days

This trial has no sites in United States.

It has sites in one country. Choose a country to see its sites.

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

The experience of infertility can cause significant emotional instability, especially for patients awaiting In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment, generating anxiety, stress, and depressive symptoms. This study is a randomized clinical trial assessing the effectiveness of aromatherapy in improving mental health and quality of life in women undergoing infertility treatment. 120 participants will be randomized into three groups (Intervention, Placebo, and Control). The intervention involves the inhalation of true lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia) for four weeks.

The 3 groups in the trial

  • Lavender essential oil groupTreatment being tested

    This intervention group will inhale 5 drops of true lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia), administered via personal inhalers (olfactory sticks). The use of personal inhalers is a safe and widely used low-cost intervention that can be applied practically and accessibly, ensuring greater adherence to the protocol by the participants. The inhalation will be performed daily, upon waking in the morning and at night before sleeping, for four weeks.

    Treatment: Lavender essential oil Inhalation

  • Synthetic lavender aroma groupPlacebo, for comparison

    The placebo group will inhale 5 drops of a synthetic lavender aroma, also administered via personal inhalers. Inhalation will be performed daily, upon waking in the morning and at night before sleeping, for four weeks.

    Treatment: Synthetic lavender aroma inhalation

  • Control GroupNo study treatment, for comparison

    The control group will receive routine care throughout the 4 weeks.

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Aromatherapy for Mental Health Promotion in In Vitro Fertilization Patients: a Randomized Clinical Trial
Plain-language title
Lavender scent inhalation for anxiety and low mood in women having IVFGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 15 November 2026.
Record updated
29 April 2026