Patient: Dr. Malpani, my IVF cycle just failed, and I feel completely lost. Everyone keeps telling me it’s just bad luck, but I can’t help wondering—how do I know if my embryos were any good in the first place?
Dr. Malpani: That’s a very important and insightful question. Most patients are told to “just try again,” but they’re rarely given proper information about what went wrong. In reality, the success of an IVF cycle heavily depends on the quality of the embryos created in the lab. So it’s only natural to ask how you can judge whether your embryos were good or not.
Patient: But I’m not a doctor or embryologist. How can I possibly understand embryo quality?
Dr. Malpani: That’s exactly the problem with most IVF clinics—they don’t empower patients. They treat IVF like a black box: you hand over your eggs and sperm, and then they tell you the result—pregnant or not. But that’s not how it should work. A good clinic should routinely provide you with photos of your embryos, explain how they were graded, and walk you through what that means.
Patient: Photos of the embryos? I wasn’t even shown mine. Is that common?
Dr. Malpani: Sadly, it’s far too common in India. Many clinics don’t want to share embryo images because they know most patients won’t ask for them. But I believe that every IVF patient has the right to see their embryos. This is the most critical part of your IVF journey—understanding the quality of the embryos that were transferred or frozen.
Patient: So how are embryos actually graded? Can a layperson like me really understand the difference?
Dr. Malpani: Absolutely! Embryo grading is not some mystical science. It’s based on visual features seen under a microscope. For example, on Day 3, we look at how many cells the embryo has, whether the cells are of equal size, and how much fragmentation there is. On Day 5, we talk about blastocysts and use terms like the inner cell mass and trophectoderm quality.
To make this process even easier for patients, we’ve developed a free AI-based tool at www.trackivf.com. This tool allows you to upload an image of your embryo and get an automated explanation of the embryo grade, so you can learn what a good or poor-quality embryo looks like.
Patient: Wait, so I can upload a photo of my embryo and it will explain it to me?
Dr. Malpani: Exactly. It’s a powerful educational tool. Of course, it’s not meant to replace your embryologist’s judgment, but it gives you a starting point to ask the right questions. It helps you make sense of what’s happening in the IVF lab and ensures you’re not blindly trusting someone with your future.
Patient: I really wish I had known about this earlier. Maybe I could have asked my clinic better questions.
Dr. Malpani: That’s precisely the point. When patients are better informed, they are more confident, less anxious, and can make smarter decisions. And the best part? Good IVF clinics will never hesitate to share embryo photos or grading details with you. In fact, they’re proud to show off their work.
Patient: But what if my clinic refuses to share the embryo photos?
Dr. Malpani: That’s a red flag. It means they’re either not confident about their lab quality or they simply don’t value transparency. In such cases, I encourage patients to seek a second opinion. It’s your body, your money, and your emotional investment—you deserve to know what’s going on.
Patient: Do patients often discover their embryos weren’t good only after the IVF fails?
Dr. Malpani: Unfortunately, yes. Many clinics don’t explain embryo quality until after a failure, and even then, they often give vague answers like “your eggs were weak” or “your lining didn’t cooperate.” But the most objective way to assess an IVF cycle is by reviewing the embryo images. Embryo quality gives us a clear idea of whether the problem was with the lab or something else.
Patient: So if I’m planning my next IVF cycle, what should I make sure happens?
Dr. Malpani: Great question. Here’s what you should insist on:
Get photos of all your embryos, not just the ones transferred.
Ask for a clear explanation of the grading system used.
Upload the images to www.trackivf.com for a second layer of understanding.
If the embryo quality is poor, ask if the lab can improve things in the next cycle. Maybe try a different stimulation protocol or even consider changing the clinic.
Patient: This is empowering. I always thought IVF success was mostly luck.
Dr. Malpani: There is an element of chance, yes, but a well-informed patient has much better odds. When you understand the science and data behind IVF—like how embryos are made and graded—you’re no longer a passive bystander. You become an active participant in your own fertility journey.
Patient: Thank you, Dr. Malpani. I feel much more confident now.
Dr. Malpani: I’m glad to hear that. IVF doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. When clinics share information transparently and patients take the time to understand it, the entire process becomes much more humane—and more effective.
Dr. Malpani: Please get your doubts resolved free using our chatbot which is powered by AI based on Dr Malpani’s 40 years of clinical expertise and experience at https://www.drmalpani.com/chat-w-chatbot/index.html. This will ensure you’re on the right path and potentially save significant costs in the long run.