A client recently asked me whether she could have her brows done while going through IVF.

As a woman myself, for whom IVF lingers constantly in the back of my mind, my immediate reflection was that this is not something to take lightly. My answer? I advised her to speak to her fertility team.

But I realised I also wanted to understand the question better myself.

In researching this, one thing became clear to me: IVF isn't a single medical moment. The HFEA describes a cycle as involving several stages — hormonal medication, ovarian stimulation and monitoring, egg collection, fertilisation, embryo transfer and then the pregnancy-test period — with a cycle commonly taking around four to six weeks.

That immediately makes the question: “Can I have PMU while doing IVF?” a little more nuanced.

For example you could also ask: “When during IVF?” Before stimulation? During medication? Between egg collection and embryo transfer? During the two-week wait? Following a positive pregnancy test?

You see, PMU isn't just about the pigment. It is also about the healing process.

During a PMU treatment, I’m creating tiny openings in the skin and implanting pigment within them. The healing process is your body healing these tiny wounds while the skin settles around the implanted pigment.

There are certain factors that can impede or slow the skin’s healing process, and while these tiny openings remain unhealed, there is a risk of infection.

Certain medications can affect the skin's ability to heal. When you're going through fertility treatment, there may be medications involved that your fertility clinician will be better placed to consider in the context of PMU.

What I haven't found in authoritative sources is a blanket HFEA or NHS statement saying something simplistic like “PMU is safe during IVF” or “PMU is prohibited throughout IVF.”

So, can you have PMU during IVF?

There isn't a universal yes or no. If you're undergoing IVF, whether PMU is appropriate depends on where you are in your treatment, the medication you're taking and your individual circumstances. Your fertility clinician is the right person to advise you before booking PMU.

I've put the question to a fertility specialist here in London. When I know more, I'll share what I learn.

For now, this isn't a gap I can responsibly fill as the PMU Artist. It's very easy, particularly online, to find a confident yes or no to almost any beauty question. But sometimes the responsible answer is more complicated.

If you're going through IVF and considering PMU, my answer is genuinely: take the question to your fertility clinician. They will be better positioned to consider this in line with your treatment plan.

By Ella Fjord
September 2026