IVF (in vitro fertilisation)

What IVF involves

The UK fertility regulator, the HFEA, describes IVF as “a type of fertility treatment where fertilisation takes place outside the body.” It sets out the usual sequence: “Usually in IVF, the woman has medicines (fertility hormones) to stimulate the ovaries to produce several eggs. The eggs are then collected and mixed with sperm in a laboratory.”

After fertilisation, “the embryos are allowed to develop for between two and six days. This helps the embryologist to select the strongest embryo, which is then transferred back to the woman's womb”. The HFEA calls IVF a cycle because “it involves a number of stages: suppressing natural hormone production, hormone treatment to boost egg supply, egg collection, mixing the eggs and sperm and finally, embryo transfer”. On timing, it says: “For most people, one cycle of IVF will take between four and six weeks.”

Where there is a problem with the sperm, one step changes: “If there are issues with the sperm quality such as low motility or numbers, a procedure called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may instead be used”. The ICSI page explains the difference.

When it is used

The HFEA lists the people who might be recommended to have IVF:

• “Women with blocked or damaged fallopian tubes.”
• “People with unexplained fertility problems, or who have tried other treatments that were unsuccessful.”
• “Men with low sperm counts or who have high numbers of sperm with an abnormal shape or movement.”
• “Women who have difficulty with ovulation and who haven't been successful with other treatments.”
• “Older women who are less likely to be successful with less invasive treatments.”
• “People using surrogacy.”

It also says: “Not everyone needs IVF. For example, some problems with ovulation may be corrected with drug treatment alone so it's important you understand all your options before going ahead.” Whether it is appropriate in a particular case is a clinical decision for the treating doctor. This directory does not make that judgement.

Extras offered alongside IVF

The HFEA warns that “You may be offered 'treatment add-ons' which are optional extras, often charged at an extra cost.” Its view of the evidence: “The fact is, there is no conclusive evidence that any of the commonly offered add-ons increase the chance of a pregnancy.” Related pages: blastocyst culture, PGT and sperm selection for ICSI (IMSI and PICSI).

What the regulator says about risks

The HFEA says “IVF is generally very safe and most who have it experience no problems with their health or pregnancy. However, there are some risks to be aware of, which include:”

• “ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (a severe reaction to fertility drugs)”
• “having a multiple pregnancy or birth (twins, triplets or more) , which can cause serious health problems to both mum and babies”
• “having an ectopic pregnancy”
• “possible birth defects (these are rare and research is still ongoing).”

On spare embryos, it says “it's normally best practice to freeze the remaining embryos because putting two embryos back in the womb increases your chance of having twins or triplets, which carries health risks.” The embryo freezing page covers what happens next.

India’s ART (Regulation) Rules, 2022 set out two levels of clinic:

• A Level 1 clinic is one where “only IUI is carried out as part of treatment”.
• A Level 2 clinic is one where “all/advanced investigations, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in ART are carried out”.

Because a Level 1 clinic may carry out only IUI, IVF is Level 2 work.

That is why each clinic below shows the level the national registry records for it. Of the listings below, 250 are registered as Level 2, 43 as Level 1, and 131 have no level in the registry extract. This directory does not know why a Level 1 clinic names IVF. A clinic may send patients to a partner Level 2 laboratory, or its website may describe services it does not provide on site. Ask the clinic where the IVF itself is done, and check its registration on the National ART & Surrogacy Registry.