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Choosing an IVF clinic requires careful evaluation of laboratory standards, medical expertise and patient safety. (Img: Pinterest)
New Delhi: With fertility treatment becoming an important option for couples struggling to conceive, experts advise prospective patients to look beyond advertised success rates and assess a clinic’s medical expertise, laboratory conditions, safety protocols and regulatory compliance.
Choosing an in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinic is a significant decision for individuals and couples seeking fertility treatment. While the experience of the treating specialist remains important, the quality of the embryology laboratory, the clinic’s safety practices and the transparency of its treatment protocols can also influence the overall treatment experience.
A recent report by media highlighted the importance of maintaining a carefully controlled environment in IVF laboratories, particularly by limiting exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These chemicals can be released by products such as paints, adhesives, cleaning agents, air fresheners and certain furnishings.
Dr Manjunath CS, a fertility specialist at Birla Fertility and IVF, told the media that eggs and embryos require closely regulated laboratory conditions during fertilisation and early development. Unlike cells inside the human body, which benefit from the body's natural protective mechanisms, reproductive cells handled outside the body depend on carefully maintained environmental conditions.
Although exposure to airborne chemicals does not automatically imply harm, controlling avoidable contaminants is an important aspect of laboratory quality management.
During IVF, eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. The resulting embryos are cultured in incubators that maintain appropriate temperature, gas concentrations and other conditions required for development before an embryo is selected for transfer.
Laboratory air quality is one of several factors that fertility centres must manage. Certain airborne contaminants may potentially affect the culture environment, making ventilation, appropriate filtration, careful selection of construction materials and controlled access to laboratory areas relevant considerations.
HEPA filtration helps remove airborne particles, but it does not, by itself, eliminate gaseous chemical contaminants. Laboratories may therefore require additional filtration systems designed to address VOCs and other airborne pollutants.
Construction and renovation also warrant attention because fresh paint, adhesives, flooring materials and new furniture can release chemical compounds. Appropriate building materials, ventilation and sufficient time for emissions to dissipate can help laboratories maintain suitable conditions.
Patients considering treatment should ask clinics about their environmental monitoring systems, filtration arrangements, cleaning protocols and procedures for handling eggs and embryos. However, laboratory air quality should be assessed alongside other essential indicators of clinical quality, rather than treated as a guarantee of successful treatment.Check the clinic’s credentials and registration
Beyond laboratory infrastructure, prospective patients should verify whether the facility is legally registered to provide assisted reproductive technology (ART) services.
India’s Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, establishes a statutory framework for the registration and supervision of ART clinics and banks. Section 15 requires clinics undertaking ART procedures to be registered under the law. The registration framework also addresses requirements relating to specialised personnel, infrastructure and diagnostic facilities.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s National ART and Surrogacy Registry maintains a public database of registered clinics and banks. Patients can consult the registry to verify a facility’s registration details before commencing treatment.
The registry is available at: https://registry.artsurrogacy.gov.in/clinic/list?type=register-clinic
Registration is an important first check, although it should not be mistaken for a guarantee of treatment outcomes. Patients should also examine the qualifications of the treating doctor, the experience of the embryology team and the clinic’s arrangements for managing complications or referring patients to other specialists when necessary.
Infertility can arise from several causes, including ovulation disorders, problems involving the fallopian tubes or uterus, sperm-related factors and conditions affecting reproductive hormones. A comprehensive evaluation is therefore essential before a treatment plan is finalised.
Depending on the circumstances, investigations may include assessment of ovulation, examination of the reproductive tract and semen analysis. Tests should be selected according to the patient's medical history and clinical requirements instead of being ordered indiscriminately.
Couples should ask the specialist to explain the suspected cause of infertility, the investigations being recommended and whether less invasive treatment options may be appropriate before IVF. They should also understand why a particular protocol is being suggested and what alternatives are available.
A clinic that explains the diagnosis, discusses uncertainties and allows patients to make informed decisions can help them navigate a process that may involve multiple appointments, procedures and treatment cycles.
Success rates are among the most important considerations when comparing fertility centres, but the figures need to be interpreted carefully. A clinic may advertise a high success rate without making clear whether it refers to a positive pregnancy test, a clinical pregnancy or a live birth. These are different outcomes and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Patients should ask for age-specific results, preferably expressed in terms of live births per treatment cycle or per embryo transfer, with the denominator and reporting period clearly explained. They should also establish whether the figures include all patients starting treatment or only those who reach embryo transfer.
Age, the cause and duration of infertility, previous treatment history, ovarian response and embryo-related factors can all affect an individual's prospects. Results from another patient or a clinic's overall success rate cannot reliably predict the outcome for a particular couple.
Specialists should provide realistic, individualised estimates and explain the limitations of those estimates. Claims of guaranteed pregnancy or uniformly high success rates warrant particular scrutiny.
IVF can involve expenses beyond the initial consultation or advertised treatment package. Medication, diagnostic tests, egg retrieval, laboratory procedures, embryo freezing, storage, embryo transfer and subsequent frozen embryo transfers may be billed separately.
Patients should request a written estimate specifying what is included, which services attract additional charges and what happens financially if a cycle is cancelled or does not progress as expected.
They should also clarify the likely number of visits, the duration of treatment and whether additional investigations or procedures could become necessary. Financial counselling can help couples assess the implications of repeated cycles without feeling pressured to commit immediately.
Equally important is the clinic’s approach to informed consent, confidentiality and the handling and storage of reproductive material. Patients should receive clear explanations of the procedures, potential risks and relevant consent requirements before treatment begins.
Fertility treatment can place considerable emotional and financial demands on individuals and couples. Uncertainty over outcomes, repeated procedures and the possibility of unsuccessful cycles can make the process particularly difficult.
A supportive clinic should provide opportunities to discuss concerns, explain treatment decisions and access counselling when needed. Patients should know whom to contact if they experience side effects, have questions between appointments or require urgent medical attention.
Continuity of care is another consideration. Couples may wish to establish whether the treating specialist will remain involved throughout the treatment cycle, how progress will be communicated and who will discuss the results with them.
The World Health Organization estimates that infertility affects approximately one in six people of reproductive age worldwide during their lifetime. Its November 2025 fact sheet identifies infertility as a condition affecting both individuals and couples, with causes that may involve the male or female reproductive system.
The scale of the problem underscores the importance of access to affordable, evidence-based fertility services. Selecting an IVF clinic should therefore involve more than comparing advertisements or choosing a facility based on convenience.
Prospective patients should verify registration, assess the expertise of the clinical and embryology teams, ask about laboratory safeguards, seek transparent information on live-birth outcomes and obtain a clear account of costs and risks.
A carefully chosen clinic cannot guarantee a successful pregnancy, but informed decision-making can help patients identify appropriate care, understand their options and approach treatment with more realistic expectations.
