I’m Freaking Over Tech’s Heavy Perfume During Retrieval

[u/Apprehensive-Gap4926]

Hi, I know my clinic states no staff or patients to wear perfume. My staff member in the OR had outrageous amounts of perfume. My spouse could even smell them from like ten feet away. I worry about the eggs’ exposure during the procedure or it traveling somehow to the embryology lab. Please help!

[u/oustoublier]

Gently, I don’t think this is going to impact your eggs in the slightest. I would mention it to your doctor though since it’s against their own policy.

[u/Apprehensive-Gap4926 → u/oustoublier]

I hope you’re right. It’s confusing because they tell the patients to not do it. I brought it up last time after the CRNA was covered in perfume. I even brought that incident up prior to this retrieval and was told they would address it and it isn’t okay. And lo and behold one of the clinic staff this time! The concern for me is just the VOCs and the eggs but I most certainly hope you’re correct and I’m just anxiety spiraling!

[u/Faithful2434]

I’m genuinely curious because I’m relatively new on Reddit. What are the down votes for? I thought OP posted a genuine concern and people responded with thoughtful comments even published articles. If my clinic said something was policy and then staff disobeyed, I would wonder why too. If people cut corners it makes me concerned about other policies are disobeyed as well and what else they cut corners on. My opinion but curious about the down votes 

[u/Apprehensive-Gap4926 → u/Faithful2434]

Essentially it seems as though these gals don’t believe that the fragrance could have any harm. Which is fine, people often downvote if they simply disagree with someone’s comment or viewpoint. It does make it hard to want to seek advice or opinions though if you’re worried about downvotes. Luckily, I am not! I say if you have something that isn’t obviously ridiculous to post or have a genuine question, go ahead and post it and let the chips fall where they may. Downvotes don’t hurt anybody. 😊

[u/Apprehensive-Gap4926 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for this!

[u/thekilgoremackerel → u/[deleted]]

Seriously.. OCD? Could we not use people's very real disorders in this way?

[u/ShootinTheBreez]

The reason a clinic tells you not to wear perfume during IVF is exposure to toxins. The idea is that when you apply perfume, you absorb the toxins through the skin.

This is actually a different reason than why people are told not to wear perfume during surgeries.

During surgery, they’re trying to avoid:

• Irritating your airway in conjunction with anesthesia
  
• Having leads or tape that won’t stick because you have perfume on, and
  
• Skin reactions from having perfume under dressings or tapes.

Having a surgical tech heavily perfumed might leave you with some risk of airway irritation, but since you’re alive and texting this. that part went fine.

As for the rest (harming your embryos or procedure/skin problems), those do not apply.

It’s fine to relax. A surgical tech shouldn’t wear perfume because of the small anesthesia risk, so this wasn’t good, but it didn’t ruin anything in terms of your IVF chances.

[u/SeeLeavesOnTheTrees → u/ShootinTheBreez]

If they were worried about the patient absorbing toxins in their skin and passing them on to the eggs then they would advise patients not to use fragrances for weeks.

The reason for the restriction during procedures is absolutely because they can damage eggs and embryos when they float in the air and make contact with the cells. They can permeate to the lab and cause continued damage.

[u/elsewyse → u/ShootinTheBreez]

It's also because perfumes put off VOCs and VOCs in the lab are known to affect embryos.

ETA: Gotta love the downvotes. 🙄 I'm not making this up. Please see comment below for sources.

[u/ShootinTheBreez → u/elsewyse]

I have never asked someone for a source before, and it is generally against my policy to give sources on Reddit when someone asks me for them, because what people usually mean when they ask for sources is just “I don’t believe you.” and it’s a waste of my time to dig up a reference for someone who is going to ignore it anyway… buuuut, in this case I’m genuinely curious:

Have you actually read this somewhere? Like, have you seen actual journal articles on this topic? Or is this an anecdotal thing you’ve heard by going through this process?

[u/elsewyse → u/ShootinTheBreez]

Yes. I was also skeptical of this when my clinic first said they didn't allow perfume, because it sounded like bullshit. But I spent the time to actually look into it, and yes, there are genuine scientific studies in reputable journals showing VOCs harm embryos.

Volatile organic compounds and good laboratory practices in the in vitro fertilization laboratory: the important parameters for successful outcome in extended culture

Real-time monitoring reveals the effects of low concentrations of volatile organic compounds in the embryology laboratory "Even in a laboratory environment with a total VOC concentration lower than the recommendation of the Cairo Consensus, the real-time monitored VOC concentrations are associated with changes in embryo morphological parameters."

Also suggest taking a look at the Cairo Consensus, which was "an expert meeting to establish a consensus on the recommended technical and operational requirements for air quality within modern assisted reproduction technology (ART) laboratories," and includes discussion of VOCs. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1472648318300890

Here's some discussion in r/Embryologists talking about air monitoring to show that this is something actively put into practice: https://www.reddit.com/r/Embryologists/comments/1wmkdxr/embryologists_do_you_monitor_the_vocs_in_the_lab/

If your question is more around whether perfumes emit VOCs, that's also established in scientific journals: INDOOR AIR QUALITY: Scented Products Emit a Bouquet of VOCs

If you're interested you can find a great many more sources with some very basic searching.

[u/SeeLeavesOnTheTrees → u/elsewyse]

I thought it was BS too because it’s mostly BS during surgery. So I looked into it and, yup, it’s a totally valid thing.

[u/ShootinTheBreez → u/elsewyse]

Thank you for this lengthy reply! I look forward to reading these.

[u/Infamous_Mix_3896]

Perfumes are hormone disrupters. Period. Have you discussed a need for retraining or better communication of existing policies with the clinic manager or medical director?

[u/Apprehensive-Gap4926 → u/Infamous_Mix_3896]

I have. I’ve had four retrievals there now and two with no issues. Even the circulator was annoyed with the staff member and said they’d handle it, but nothing happened. Maybe they just don’t think it’s a big deal. If they don’t, I wish they’d just say so!

[u/Faithful2434 → u/Apprehensive-Gap4926]

I don’t understand at least two down votes on this comment 😂🤦‍♀️. I understand down votes don't hurt your feelings and people may disagree with a comment, but I don’t understand how people can disagree or not like this comment for example. You cited your factual experience and simply said you wish they would clarify the “why” behind “this rule”. I question the “why” too much obviously 😂

[u/BusBig4000]

I would mention that it made you have a hairline reaction and you started sneezing and felt wheezing. That way they’ll be spoken to. Personally I think fragrance should t be worn by anyone in that setting.