Researchers are testing whether helping couples avoid harmful chemicals, stress, and unhealthy habits can improve their chances of having a baby through IVF treatment. The study involves over 2,100 couples who will either receive personalized help from doctors, dietitians, and counselors to reduce environmental risks, or receive standard IVF treatment. Scientists will track both groups for two years to see if the extra support leads to more successful pregnancies. This research suggests that what we’re exposed to in our homes and workplaces might affect fertility, and that making targeted lifestyle changes could make a real difference.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a special program that helps couples identify and reduce harmful environmental exposures (like chemicals, stress, and poor diet) improves success rates for couples trying to get pregnant through IVF
  • Who participated: 2,112 couples who are struggling to conceive and planning to undergo IVF treatment. Half will receive the special environmental support program, and half will receive standard IVF care
  • Key finding: This is a study protocol describing a planned research project, not yet completed. The study will compare live birth rates between couples who receive personalized environmental health support versus those who receive standard IVF treatment over 24 months
  • What it means for you: If results show the program works, couples undergoing fertility treatment may benefit from getting professional help to reduce environmental toxins and stress. However, we need to wait for the actual results before knowing if this approach truly improves pregnancy success

The Research Details

This is a randomized controlled trial, which is considered one of the strongest types of medical research. Researchers will divide 2,112 couples into two groups: one group (Arm A) will use a special platform called PREVENIR that connects them with dietitians, addiction specialists, psychologists, and occupational health doctors to identify and reduce harmful exposures. The other group (Arm B) will receive standard IVF treatment without this extra support.

Both groups will be followed for 24 months (two years). Participants will fill out questionnaires about their environment, stress levels, exercise habits, and mental health. Doctors will also measure their weight and body mass index (BMI) and check for smoking exposure through breath tests. The main question researchers want to answer is: does the PREVENIR platform help more couples achieve a successful pregnancy and live birth?

This study is being conducted at multiple medical centers in France, which means results will come from many different hospitals and clinics, making the findings more reliable and applicable to different populations.

This research approach is important because it takes a comprehensive, whole-person view of fertility. Instead of just focusing on the medical aspects of IVF, it looks at everything in a person’s life that might affect their ability to conceive—their job environment, home life, diet, stress, exercise, and chemical exposures. By testing whether addressing these factors actually improves pregnancy rates, the study could change how fertility clinics support their patients. If successful, it could lead to a new standard of care that goes beyond just the medical procedure itself.

This study has several strengths: it’s randomized (meaning couples are randomly assigned to groups, reducing bias), it involves over 2,000 participants (a large sample size), it’s being conducted at multiple centers, and it will follow people for two full years. The study includes objective measurements (like BMI and breath tests) alongside self-reported information. However, this is a study protocol (a plan for research), not yet completed research, so we don’t yet have actual results. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, which increases transparency and credibility.

What the Results Show

This document is a study protocol, meaning it describes the plan for research that is currently underway or about to begin. The actual results have not yet been published. The primary outcome the researchers will measure is the proportion of couples who achieve at least one live birth during the 24-month follow-up period in each group.

The study will also track secondary outcomes including the spontaneous pregnancy rate (pregnancies that happen without IVF), the time it takes to achieve pregnancy, the success rate of the IVF procedure itself, and the health of pregnancies in both groups. Additionally, researchers will conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis to determine whether the PREVENIR platform is worth the investment from a public health perspective.

When the study is complete, researchers will compare these outcomes between the group that received the PREVENIR platform support and the group that received standard care. This comparison will tell us whether the personalized environmental health intervention actually improves fertility outcomes.

Beyond live birth rates, the study will examine several other important outcomes. These include how many couples achieve spontaneous pregnancy (without needing IVF), how long it takes couples to get pregnant, the quality of life and mental health of participants, and whether the program helps couples maintain healthier weights and reduce smoking. The research will also look at whether the PREVENIR platform is cost-effective—meaning whether the benefits justify the expense of providing these extra services.

Growing scientific evidence suggests that environmental factors like chemical exposures, stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, and smoking can reduce fertility in both men and women. Previous research has shown that lifestyle changes can improve reproductive health. However, most fertility clinics focus primarily on the medical aspects of IVF treatment. This study is unique because it systematically tests whether a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to reducing environmental exposures actually improves IVF success rates. If successful, it would represent a shift toward more holistic fertility care.

Since this is a study protocol rather than completed research, we cannot yet assess the actual results. When the study is complete, potential limitations may include: the study is open-label (meaning participants and doctors know who is in which group, which could introduce bias), the results may only apply to couples in France, and the effectiveness may depend on how well participants follow the recommendations. Additionally, the study cannot determine which specific environmental factors are most important for fertility, only whether the overall program works.

The Bottom Line

This is a study protocol, so formal recommendations cannot yet be made. However, the research suggests that couples struggling with infertility may benefit from addressing environmental factors in their lives. If you’re undergoing fertility treatment, consider discussing with your doctor whether reducing stress, improving diet, increasing physical activity, avoiding chemical exposures, and quitting smoking might help. These changes are generally healthy regardless of fertility outcomes. Wait for the actual study results (expected in the coming years) before making major decisions based on this research.

This research is most relevant to couples who are struggling to conceive and planning IVF treatment. It’s also important for fertility doctors, public health officials, and workplace health professionals. If you’re trying to conceive naturally, some of these principles may also apply, though the study specifically focuses on couples undergoing IVF. This research is less relevant to people who are not trying to conceive.

Since this is an ongoing study, results won’t be available immediately. The study will follow participants for 24 months, and then researchers will need time to analyze the data and publish results. Expect to see findings published within the next 2-3 years. If the program is effective, it would take additional time for fertility clinics to adopt and implement it widely.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track environmental exposures and lifestyle factors monthly: record any chemical exposures at work or home, stress levels (1-10 scale), weekly exercise minutes, diet quality, and smoking/secondhand smoke exposure. This mirrors the questionnaires used in the PREVENIR study
  • Use the app to set and monitor specific goals based on the PREVENIR framework: reduce one chemical exposure, add 30 minutes of weekly exercise, improve diet quality by adding one healthy meal, practice one stress-reduction technique daily, and avoid smoking. Celebrate small wins each week
  • Create a quarterly review dashboard showing trends in environmental exposures, BMI, exercise, diet, and stress levels. Set reminders for the same questionnaires used in the study (every 3 months) to track progress. Share results with your healthcare provider to inform fertility treatment decisions

This article describes a research study protocol that is currently underway. The actual results have not yet been published, so we cannot yet confirm whether the PREVENIR platform improves fertility outcomes. This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace personalized medical advice from your fertility specialist or healthcare provider. Environmental factors may affect fertility, but individual results vary greatly. If you’re struggling to conceive, consult with a qualified reproductive endocrinologist or fertility specialist who can assess your specific situation and recommend appropriate treatment. Do not delay or avoid standard fertility treatment based on this research protocol.