How IVF Clinics Cut Corners – And Why Patients Pay the Price
Patient: Dr Malpani, I keep seeing IVF clinics offering very low-cost packages. At first, it sounds attractive, but I can’t help wondering—how are they able to keep prices so low?
Dr. Malpani: That’s an excellent and very important question. Many patients are drawn in by flashy advertisements and “discounted” IVF packages, but they don’t always realise that these savings often come at the expense of quality.
Patient: What do you mean by “quality”? Isn’t IVF a standard medical procedure?
Dr. Malpani: IVF is a standard technique, but the success of the treatment depends on the quality of every single step. Some low-cost clinics cut corners by using cheaper, less effective injections—specifically low-potency urinary gonadotropins instead of high-quality recombinant ones. These drugs may look the same to a patient, but the biological effect is very different.
Patient: So what happens if these low-quality injections are used?
Dr. Malpani: The ovarian response is often poor. Instead of developing a good number of healthy eggs, the ovaries produce fewer and weaker ones. As a result, when we try to fertilise them in the IVF lab, the embryos are also of poor quality.
Patient: And then the patient is told their eggs are the problem?
Dr. Malpani: Exactly. Instead of admitting that poor medication choices led to a weak response, patients are often blamed. They are then told, “Your eggs aren’t good enough—let’s move to donor eggs.” This shifts responsibility away from the clinic and onto the patient, forcing her to accept more expensive and emotionally difficult treatments.
Patient: That sounds very unfair. Patients are already vulnerable, and now they’re being misled into unnecessary treatments?
Dr. Malpani: Unfortunately, yes. This is one of the hidden costs of low-cost IVF packages. The cycle seems cheap at first, but when it fails or results in poor-quality embryos, patients are pushed into additional cycles or donor egg treatments. In the end, they spend far more money and emotional energy than if they had chosen a clinic that values transparency and quality from the beginning.
Patient: So how can patients protect themselves?
Dr. Malpani: By becoming informed, empowered decision-makers. Ask the clinic exactly which medications they will be using. Research the difference between urinary and recombinant gonadotropins. Demand to see embryo photos. Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion if something feels off. IVF is too important to leave to chance—or to cost-cutting measures.
Patient: Thank you, Dr Malpani. It feels reassuring to know that patients can take control instead of being passive.
Dr. Malpani: Absolutely. Remember, this is your body, your money, and your future. Don’t let anyone push you into decisions without full, transparent information.