Is IVF Always Stressful, Doctor?” – How to Have a Pain-Free, Anxiety-Free IVF Experience
Patient: Dr Malpani, everyone keeps telling me that IVF is an extremely stressful process. I'm already anxious just thinking about it. Is that really true?
Dr. Malpani: You're right—many patients do find IVF stressful, but that doesn't mean it has to be. The stress you’re referring to usually falls into two categories—physical stress and mental stress. Let’s break them down one by one.
Patient: Okay, let’s start with physical stress. I’ve heard horror stories about daily clinic visits and painful injections.
Dr. Malpani: That’s a very real concern. In many clinics, patients are asked to come in every single day for blood tests, scans, or injections. They may even be given painful intramuscular progesterone injections that leave them sore and uncomfortable—many can’t even sit down properly.
Patient: Yes! A friend told me she had to take daily heparin shots that caused bruising and burning. It sounded awful.
Dr. Malpani: And the worst part? Most of that is completely unnecessary. At our clinic, we avoid those painful intramuscular injections. Instead, we use progesterone vaginal pessaries, which are just as effective—and painless.
We also don't give routine heparin injections unless absolutely indicated. There’s no evidence they improve pregnancy rates in most cases, so why cause pain and distress?
Patient: That’s such a relief to hear. But what about the constant clinic visits?
Dr. Malpani: We’ve designed our treatment protocols to minimise hospital visits. Most of our patients only need to come in three to four times during the entire IVF cycle. We encourage self-injection, which not only empowers patients but also saves them travel time, waiting time, and all the stress that comes with it.
Patient: That would really help reduce the anxiety. But even then, I feel overwhelmed not knowing what’s going to happen next. That unpredictability is stressful.
Dr. Malpani: And that brings us to mental stress, which is often worse than physical discomfort. We tackle that by practising what I call “information therapy”.
Patient: Information therapy?
Dr. Malpani: Yes—it means giving patients complete, honest, and understandable information about their treatment. We explain each step, tell them what’s coming next, and help them set realistic expectations. This helps them feel in control of the process, rather than feeling like a passenger.
Patient: That sounds very different from what I’ve heard. Most people say IVF doctors hardly explain anything and just keep them guessing.
Dr. Malpani: Sadly, that’s true in many clinics. Doctors often use too much medical jargon or simply don’t take the time to explain. Patients are left in the dark, unsure of what’s going on and constantly worried whether things are going well or not. That opacity adds a huge amount of emotional burden.
Patient: So your clinic does things differently?
Dr. Malpani: Absolutely. We share a written treatment plan in advance. During every visit, we explain exactly what we’re doing and why. And after the embryo transfer, we give patients photos of their embryos—because they deserve proof that they received world-class care.
Patient: I love that approach. It makes IVF sound far less intimidating.
Dr. Malpani: And that’s exactly the goal. IVF is challenging, yes—but it shouldn’t be traumatic. With the right approach, empathy, and transparency, it can be a much more peaceful experience. Our aim is to make it a stress-free journey—both for your body and your mind.
Patient: Thank you so much, Dr Malpani. This gives me so much confidence to take the next step.