Patient: Dr. Malpani, I recently visited an IVF clinic, and they suggested several additional treatments to “boost my success rate.” They said these were cutting-edge and gave me a long list of add-ons. I’m overwhelmed. How do I decide what’s necessary?
Dr. Malpani: I completely understand your concern. IVF itself is a complex process, and when clinics start suggesting add-ons, it’s easy to feel confused. Let’s break it down. Many of these so-called “add-ons” are marketed as ways to improve success rates, but most don’t have strong scientific evidence backing them.
Patient: That’s surprising! The clinic sounded so confident. They mentioned things like endometrial receptivity testing, immune therapy, and extra lab procedures. Shouldn’t I do everything possible to improve my chances?
Dr. Malpani: That’s a natural reaction. But remember, more is not always better—especially in medicine. Some clinics take advantage of hopeful patients by recommending expensive but unproven treatments. For example, endometrial receptivity testing claims to help determine the best time for embryo transfer, but studies show no clear benefit over standard timing. The ERA test is a waste of time and money. Read more at https://www.drmalpani.com/knowledge-center/articles/why-the-new-expensive-endometrial-receptivity-tests-are-useless
Patient: But what about immune treatments? The clinic said my body could “reject” the embryo unless I took certain medications.
Dr. Malpani: That’s one of the most misleading claims. Many clinics promote treatments like Intralipids, IVIG, and steroids to “modulate” the immune system. The truth is, there’s no solid scientific evidence that the immune system rejects embryos in a normal IVF cycle. These treatments are costly and may even have harmful side effects.
Patient: That’s concerning. So why do clinics push these treatments?
Dr. Malpani: Unfortunately, the IVF industry is highly commercialized. Clinics know that patients are desperate for success, and they use medical jargon to justify expensive add-ons. Many of these treatments are based on theories rather than proven science. Since patients rarely question doctors, they trust that these add-ons are essential.
Patient: What about assisted hatching? The clinic said these increase implantation rates.
Dr. Malpani: Again, the evidence is weak.. Assisted hatching, where a laser or chemical is used to thin the embryo’s outer shell, is another controversial add-on. It’s only useful in specific cases, like when embryos have thick zona pellucida, but it’s not a universal solution.
Patient: My doctor advised me to do genetic testing on my embryo. Surely this makes sense ! Why do we want to transfer a genetically abnormal embryo into the uterus.
Dr Malpani: Yes, but just because it’s logical does not mean it is effective ! That’s the whole point of doing controlled clinical trials ! PGS actually reduces pregnancy rates.
Patient: It feels like a lot of clinics are taking advantage of desperate couples.
Dr. Malpani: Sadly, that’s true in many cases. A common scam is using HCG injections after embryo transfer to produce a false positive pregnancy test. Patients are initially thrilled, but when the levels drop, they’re told they had a “miscarriage” and need another cycle. This cycle of false hope and misinformation is deeply unethical.
Patient: That’s awful. How can patients protect themselves?
Dr. Malpani: The key is information therapy—educate yourself! Don’t blindly trust everything a clinic tells you. Ask for scientific studies that support their claims. If they can’t provide solid evidence, that’s a red flag. Stick to clinics that prioritize transparency and patient welfare.
Patient: That makes sense. But what if a clinic insists I need these add-ons for better success?
Dr. Malpani: Demand proof. A good clinic will respect your intelligence and provide honest answers. Remember, the two most important factors for IVF success are:
High-quality embryos – Choose a clinic that shares photos and grading of your embryos.
A competent doctor – Your doctor should be ethical, communicative, and willing to answer all your questions.
Patient: I appreciate your honesty, Dr. Malpani. This conversation has saved me from unnecessary expenses and stress.
Dr. Malpani: Please get your doubts resolved free using our AI-powered chatbot, built on Dr. Malpani’s 40 years of clinical expertise and experience:https://www.drmalpani.com/chat-w-chatbot/index.html.This will help ensure you’re on the right path, answer your questions whenever you need them, and could potentially save you significant time, money, and unnecessary treatment in the long run.