Impact of a Mindfulness Intervention on Infertile Women Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technique Treatments (EMOT-IVF)

March 25, 2026 updated by: Isabelle Streuli, University Hospital, Geneva

What is the Impact of an E-tool Based Mindfulness Intervention on Psychological Outcomes Compared to no Intervention in Infertile Women Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technique Treatments: A Randomized Controlled Study?

Infertility and its treatments can have a significant impact on women's psychological health. Anxiety has a negative impact on quality of life during treatment and can lead to withdrawal of care. the investigators would like to test the effectiveness of an application available via the Internet that offers daily exercises such as mindfulness meditation. Women in the "treatment" group will be instructed to practice meditation exercises using the 15-minute daily application during in vitro fertilization treatment until pregnancy testing. Women in the control group will have the standard care of the centre. The investigators will measure the effectiveness of the intervention on anxiety, depression, quality of life and mindfulness aspects. The investigators will also assess the impact on the chances of pregnancy and stress.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Infertility is an unexpected and stressful life with emotional, social and sexual repercussions. Women undergoing assisted reproductive techniques (ART) exhibit high anxiety and/or depression scores during the pre-treatment period, during the course of treatment and during the 2 weeks waiting-time for the pregnancy test.

The impact of psychological distress on ART outcomes is debated. Several studies report a negative impact of stress on pregnancy rates after IVF whereas two meta-analyses report inconclusive results regarding the association between emotional distress and pregnancy outcomes after ART.

The success rates of ART, which are highly dependent on the woman's age, are low in women in their late reproductive years with the need of several ART treatments to achieve pregnancy. Moreover, ART is often the last resort treatment in couples that have undergone infertility investigations and other first-line treatments such as surgery, ovulation induction and/or stimulation with intra-uterine insemination. Couple need resilience in order to undergo repeated treatments. Psychological distress therefore has an impact on cumulative pregnancy rates over several ART treatments because of premature treatment discontinuation. Depressive symptoms at baseline have been shown to predict treatment "dropout" after only one cycle.

Preliminary evidence suggests that mind-body interventions, including mindfulness-based interventions and yoga, may be effective in reducing mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression in infertile women undergoing treatments.

The aim of the investigators was to develop a psychological self-help tool using modern technological means in line with the recent Femtech (female technology) developments. The hypothesis was that an online meditation tool would be more accessible and easier to integrate into a busy schedule than standard programs that require weekly attendance.

In 2017, the investigators created collaboration between experts in reproductive medicine, experts in mindfulness and a start-up that offers an online platform for meditation programs. The investigators developed an online program of 15 meditations specifically dedicated to infertile women. These meditations help women explore certain themes such as "inner resources", "social interactions", "letting go of beliefs" etc. This program has been available online since December 2017 and has been used by several thousand women.

The hypothesis behind the study is that "mindfulness-based interventions" can be delivered successfully through modern technologies with a significant impact on psychological outcomes and well-being. Femtech self-help online tools are used by thousands of women on a daily basis but studies are lacking on their efficacy.

The aim is to conduct a randomized controlled trial on the effect of a mindfulness-based intervention using the online meditation program versus standard care without intervention on psychological outcomes in infertile women undergoing ART treatments.

Women in the intervention group will receive an introduction to the concept and philosophy of mindfulness meditation through an online video and an exercise book. They will receive an access code to the application and will have access to short guided meditations both general and specific to their infertility. They will be instructed to follow the "découverte" (discovery) program of 8 meditations of 10 minutes and then the program "désir de parentalité" (wish to become a parent) of 15 meditations of 13 minutes each. Patients will be given access to all other meditations programs on the application and instructed to meditate with the program for at least 10-15 minutes on a daily basis using the e-tool for 1 month. The practice of meditation will be monitored by the number of connections to the applications and the time spent on the exercises. Women in the control group will have the standard care of the centre. The investigators will measure the effectiveness of the intervention on anxiety (State trait anxiety index, STAI), depression (Beck depression inventory, BDI), quality of life during ART treatments (Fertility quality of life tool, Fertiqol) and mindfulness aspects (Five facet mindfulness questionnaire, FFMQ). The investigators will also measure the impact of the intervention on biological stress measured by hair cortisol concentration. Finally, the investigators will assess the impact on the chances of pregnancy and on treatment discontinuation after 1 month.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
150

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

14 years to 38 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Participants fulfilling all of the following inclusion criteria are eligible for the study:

  • French-speaking
  • Women between the ages of 18-42 years
  • Scheduled for the first IVF treatment in HUG/CHUV/CPMA Lausanne
  • Access to a computer/smartphone/tablet with access to internet and a valid Email address
  • Informed Consent as documented by her signature on the form (Appendix Informed Consent Form)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Psychotropic medication
  • Ongoing psychiatric/psychological treatment
  • Known severe psychiatric co-morbidity

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Mindfulness based psychological intervention
Patients allocated to the intervention group will receive an email with a link to a video and a pdf document. The video and the pdf document will introduce them to the principles and the practice of mindfulness. They will also receive an access code to an e-tool valid for 1 month. On this e-tool the patient will have access to short guided meditations both general and specific to infertility. They will be instructed to follow the "découverte" (discovery) program of 8 meditations of 10 minutes and then the program "désir de parentalité (wish to become a parent) of 13 minutes 15 meditations of 13 minutes each. Patients will be given access to all other meditations programs of PetitBambou and instructed to meditate with the program for at least 10-15 minutes on a daily basis.
Behavioral: Mindfulness based psychological intervention
Women in the intervention group will have to use an application during 1 month. They will do meditation during 15 minutes each day.
No Intervention: Standard care
The control group will have no additional intervention and will receive standard care in the institution. Women in all 3 study sites have access to counselling/psychological support with a trained professional before treatment initiation. During that consultation coping and stress reduction strategies are discussed.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in anxiety state scores
Time Frame: 1 month

The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of an e-tool based intervention versus standard care without intervention on anxiety state measured by the French version of state trait anxiety index in infertile women undergoing ART.

State trait anxiety index state scores will be evaluated by completion of a questionnaire at 3 time points: baseline, at the time of the oocyte retrieval, on the day before the pregnancy test (before the results).

A score between 31 and 36 is considered as normal score.
1 month

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University Hospital, Geneva

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 1, 2021

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 11, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 3, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 5, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 25, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • EMOT-IVF

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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