ESSENTIAL OIL SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR IVF & IUI CLIENTS

Evidence-informed, gentle, and designed to support safety during assisted conception.

1. Purpose of This Sheet

These guidelines ensure that any essential oils used during reflexology or aromatherapy are clinically safe, hormonally appropriate, and compatible with IVF/IUI medication protocols.

Essential oils can support stress regulation, emotional steadiness, and comfort, but they must be used with care during fertility treatment.

2. GENERAL SAFETY RULES

✔️ Always use professionally blended, low-dose dilutions

For IVF/IUI clients, only very low concentrations (0.5%–1%) are used. Higher strengths can influence hormones or irritate sensitive skin.

✔️ Patch test if sensitivity or allergies are known

Especially if you have a history of dermatitis, asthma, or allergies.

✔️ Topical + inhalation only

No internal use — ever — during IVF or IUI.

✔️ Avoid use on or near the abdomen during stimulation

Tenderness and ovarian enlargement make this area sensitive. All treatments focus on feet, lower legs, hands, upper back, or inhalation.

✔️ Oils are selected to avoid hormonal influence

Only oils with neutral endocrine profiles are used.

3. OILS THAT ARE GENERALLY SAFE IN IVF/IUI (when used professionally & in low dilution)

These oils are calming, grounding, and safe when used by a trained clinical practitioner.

Gentle Nervous System Support

• Bergamot (FCF)• Sweet orange• Mandarin• Neroli• Frankincense• Roman chamomile• Lavender (true lavender, Lavandula angustifolia)

Emotional Regulation + Calm Support

• Rose (very low dilution, inhalation only)• Sandalwood• Cedarwood (Atlas or Virginian)• Vetiver (trace amounts, grounding)

Digestive/Nausea Support (if relevant)

• Ginger (very low dilution)• Spearmint (safer than peppermint in fertility care)

All oils are used with caution and only where indicated for individual clients.

4. OILS TO AVOID DURING IVF/IUI

These may carry hormonal, uterine, or medicinal interactions, or lack sufficient safety data for assisted conception.

Avoid completely:

• Clary sage• Sage (Dalmatian)• Fennel (sweet or bitter)• Anise/star anise• Basil• Oregano• Thyme (all chemotypes)• Rosemary (all chemotypes)• Cinnamon• Wintergreen• Peppermint (avoid unless clinically indicated; can affect drug metabolism in high doses)• Lemongrass• Cypress (inconclusive data on hormonal pathways)

Avoid until clinician approval:

• Any oils with emmenagogue activity• Any oils marketed as “hormone-balancing”

5. SAFETY AROUND IVF/IUI MEDICATIONS

Essential oils must be used carefully around medications such as:• Gonadotropins (Gonal-F, Menopur, Follistim)• Trigger injections (Ovitrelle, Pregnyl, hCG)• Progesterone (pessaries, injections, Crinone)• Letrozole / Clomid• Oestrogen patches, tablets, or gels

Key considerations:

✔️ Avoid high-menthol oils (peppermint, eucalyptus) as they may interact with drug metabolism when used excessively.✔️ Avoid oils affecting prostaglandins, as these can influence uterine environment.✔️ Avoid phytoestrogen oils (fennel, clary sage, anise).✔️ Avoid deep abdominal application during stimulation or luteal phase.✔️ Use only practitioner-blended formulas — over-the-counter blends may contain contraindicated oils.

6. IVF/IUI TIMELINE: WHAT’S SAFE + WHAT TO AVOID

Before Stims

Safe: grounding + calming oils Avoid: hormone-associated oils

During Stims

Safe: lavender, chamomile, bergamot (FCF), frankincense Avoid: abdominal use; stimulating oils

Trigger Night

Safe: gentle inhalation for emotional steadiness Avoid: any oils marketed as “labour-supporting” or “balancing”

Egg Collection / IUI Day

Safe: grounding oils via inhalation Avoid: abdominal application; energising oils

Post-Procedure

Safe: gentle regulation support Avoid: oils claiming to influence uterine blood flow

Two-Week Wait

Safe: lavender, chamomile, frankincense, sandalwood Avoid: peppermint, sage, fennel, clary sage

7. SAFETY AROUND SENSITIVE CONDITIONS

Essential oils must be used with extra caution if you have:

• Endometriosis• PCOS• Thyroid conditions• Asthma• Mast cell activation/sensitivities• Recurrent pregnancy loss• Ovarian hyperstimulation risk

Blends are always adjusted individually in these cases.

8. A NOTE ABOUT “FERTILITY BLENDS” SOLD ONLINE

Many commercial oils marketed for “fertility support” contain unsafe endocrine-active oils (e.g., clary sage, fennel, or anise).These are not safe for IVF/IUI.

Always use clinically formulated blends only.

9. MY PRACTICE POLICY

At The Sanctuary, I follow strict aromatherapy guidelines for assisted conception:

✔️ Low dilutions only✔️ No endocrine-active oils✔️ No abdominal applications during treatment✔️ Individualised assessment✔️ Full disclosure of oil components✔️ Evidence-informed choices✔️ Adaptations based on medication protocol✔️ Clear contraindications explained

Your safety comes before everything.

10. IF YOU FEEL UNSURE ABOUT ANY OIL

Please ask. I’m trained in clinical aromatherapy, women’s health, and fertility safety — and I’m always happy to explain why a blend is or isn’t recommended during your treatment phase.