A New Website for Australian IVF Patients: 'Evidence-based IVF'

University of Melbourne

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: IVF; IVF/ICSI; IVF Treatment; IVF-ET

Treatments: Other: Control; Other: Evidence-based IVF website content

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06885151

2025-31333

Details and patient eligibility

About

IVF 'add-ons' are extra procedures, techniques, or medicines offered alongside standard IVF treatments, often marketed to improve success rates. Examples include EmbryoGlue, endometrial scratching, and acupuncture. However, most lack clear evidence of effectiveness or safety. Despite this, over 80% of Australian IVF patients use add-ons, sometimes paying thousands of dollars.

Patients often rely on clinic websites and online forums for information, but these sources frequently exaggerate benefits while omitting information about costs and risks. There is no independent, evidence-based resource in Australia to guide decision-making, a gap recognized by both patients and government reports.

To address this, the investigators developed "Evidence-Based IVF (EBI)," a new website informed by patient decision aid standards, expertise in digital health and risk communication, and co-design sessions with IVF patients and professionals. The investigators now plan to evaluate how well it helps patients understand the evidence base for IVF add-ons.

Full description

In response to widespread calls for evidence-based resources about IVF options and add-ons in Australia, the investigators assembled a multidisciplinary team to co-design a novel website prototype referred to as 'Evidence-based IVF (EBI)'. Informed by patient decision aids standards, the MAGIC App, and applying the investigators' expertise in digital and risk communication and evidence-informed health decisions, the investigators undertook interviews with Australian IVF patients and professionals to test and iteratively modify a new resource. This trial will evaluate how this website performs in terms of gist knowledge and acceptability.

Enrollment: 850 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Live in Australia
• Undergone IVF/embryo transfer in the last 2 years or planning IVF/embryo transfer in the next six months. IVF refers to any IVF/ICSI/embryo transfer cycle in which the participant or their partner is planning to get pregnant.

Exclusion criteria

• People who underwent IVF process for egg-freezing or embryo freezing and not intending to conceive, or who received an embryo transfer as a surrogate.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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850 participants in 2 patient groups

Evidence-based IVF information

Experimental group

Description:

Evidence-based IVF information

Treatment:

Other: Evidence-based IVF website content

Control

Active Comparator group

Description:

Control information

Treatment:

Other: Control