IVF myths and facts: what is true, and what is not
Most fears about IVF come from myths, not facts. Babies conceived through IVF grow in the womb and are born like any other; transferring one embryo greatly lowers the chance of twins; the injections are manageable; IVF does not bring on early menopause; and needing more than one cycle is common. Dr Mayur Pai explains the facts.
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Where does the fear of IVF come from?
So much of the fear around IVF is not about IVF at all. It is about the myths that surround it. A typical couple we meet arrives carrying a whole bag of these fears, picked up from relatives, neighbours and the internet. Dr Mayur Pai gently takes them apart, one at a time, because the truth is far kinder than the rumours.
Are IVF babies unhealthy or unnatural?
The myth: IVF babies are somehow unhealthy or unnatural.
The fact: Not true. The baby grows in the mother's womb and is born like any other baby, and the vast majority of children born through IVF are healthy. The laboratory only helps at the very beginning, when the egg and sperm first meet. Once the embryo is placed in the womb, the baby grows there just as in any other pregnancy.
The phrase "test-tube baby" gives the wrong idea. No baby grows in a tube: only the first few days, when the egg is fertilised and the embryo begins to grow, happen in the laboratory.
Does IVF always mean twins or triplets?
The myth: IVF always means twins or triplets.
The fact: This was more common years ago. Today, good practice is usually to transfer a single healthy embryo. That greatly reduces the chance of a twin or triplet pregnancy, which carries more risk for both mother and babies. Any other good embryos can be frozen and kept for later.
Are IVF injections and procedures very painful?
The myth: the injections and procedures are terribly painful.
The fact: Most of the injections are small, given with fine needles, and quite manageable; many couples learn to give them at home. The egg collection is done under light sedation, so you are comfortable, and the embryo transfer feels much like a Pap smear. IVF is demanding, but more emotionally than physically. Read more about the hormone injections used in IVF.
Does IVF use up your eggs or cause early menopause?
The myth: IVF drains all your eggs and brings on early menopause.
The fact: No. Every month, in a natural cycle, your body starts a small batch of eggs growing, and all but one are lost. IVF simply rescues some of the eggs that would have been lost anyway that month. It does not empty your ovaries, and it does not hasten menopause.
If IVF does not work the first time, is something wrong?
The myth: IVF works the first time for everyone, so if it fails, something is terribly wrong.
The fact: The honest truth is the opposite. IVF often takes more than one cycle, and a cycle that does not succeed is common. It is not failure; it is information.
A cycle that does not succeed still tells us a great deal: how the ovaries responded to the injections, how the eggs fertilised, and how the embryos grew. That teaches us how to do better next time. When several attempts have not worked, the reasons are looked at more closely — read about repeated implantation failure and recurrent miscarriage.
Is IVF only for the rich, or a last resort?
The myth: IVF is only for the very rich, or it is a last, desperate resort.
The fact: Cost is real, and it is worth planning for honestly; we explain the costs openly before you begin. Good embryos frozen from one cycle can be used later without repeating the injections and egg collection, which is part of planning sensibly. But IVF is a mainstream, well-established treatment, not a final act of desperation. For some couples, such as those with blocked tubes or a very low sperm count, it is actually the most direct path — see IUI vs IVF: which one do you need?
Does needing IVF mean someone has failed?
And one gentle myth about blame: that needing IVF means someone failed. No one failed. Bodies are complicated, and needing help to conceive is common and human.
The causes of infertility are shared fairly evenly between women and men, and many couples have a mix of both, or no clear cause at all. Needing IVF is not a verdict on either of you. It is simply a way of helping.
The facts, in short
IVF is a well-understood medical process, not a gamble in the dark, and certainly not the frightening thing the rumours make it. It comes with no promises, and it asks real things of you: time, effort, emotion and money. But most of what keeps couples awake at night about IVF simply is not true.
Replace the fear with facts, and the whole journey becomes something you can face with your eyes open and your hopes intact. You can read how IVF works, step by step.
Where treatment happens
This guide is by Dr Mayur Pai, MBBS, MS (Obstetrics & Gynaecology), a fertility and laparoscopy specialist. Pai Hospital in Goa has its own operating theatre and its own IVF laboratory, so the egg collection, the laboratory work and the embryo transfer all happen in one place, under one team. Consultations are available across Goa, and no question is too small to ask.
Getting started
For questions, send a short WhatsApp message to +91 95185 02773 with your situation and the questions or worries you have, along with any reports you already have. Your first online consultation is free. To book a consultation, call our reception on +91 95459 20817; consultations are by appointment. This article is for education only and is not personal medical advice; please consult your doctor about your own situation.
Your questions
Are IVF babies healthy?
Yes. The baby grows in the womb and is born like any other, and the vast majority of children born through IVF are healthy. The laboratory only helps at the very beginning, when the egg and sperm first meet.
Does IVF always result in twins?
No. That was more common years ago. Today, good practice is usually to transfer a single healthy embryo, which greatly reduces the chance of a risky twin or triplet pregnancy, and any other good embryos can be frozen for later.
Are IVF injections and egg collection painful?
Most of the injections are small, given with fine needles, and quite manageable. Egg collection is done under light sedation so you are comfortable, and the embryo transfer feels much like a Pap smear. IVF is demanding more emotionally than physically.
Does IVF cause early menopause?
No. In every natural cycle the body loses a small batch of eggs anyway. IVF simply rescues some of the eggs that would have been lost that month, so it does not empty the ovaries or bring menopause closer.
Where is IVF done, and is travel help available?
At Pai Hospital in Goa, which has its own operating theatre and its own IVF laboratory. Free patient transport is available from across Goa and nearby areas.
Or call +91 95185 02773
This page is for general education and is not personal medical advice. Treatment depends on your own examination and reports, so please speak to a doctor about your situation. We do not carry out or offer sex determination of any kind.