Protecting Yourself from IVF Scams: Why Patient Education Matters
Patient: Dr Malpani, I’m really worried. Every time I visit a new IVF clinic, they suggest some “new” test or procedure. It feels like they’re just adding more and more things, and I don’t even know if they’re useful. How can I protect myself from being scammed?
Dr. Malpani: You’re right to be cautious. Unfortunately, some IVF clinics keep inventing “new” treatment options just to extract more money from desperate, gullible patients. The sad truth is, many of these add-ons are completely useless. They don’t increase success rates—they only increase the doctor’s bill.
Patient: But aren’t doctors supposed to help patients?
Dr. Malpani: Ideally, yes. But the reality is that while some doctors are ethical, a few “bad apples” spoil the reputation of all clinics. Once a market leader introduces a profitable but unscientific treatment, others copy it quickly. It becomes a money-making epidemic.
Patient: Can you give me an example of such a scam?
Dr. Malpani: One of the newest scams is recommending a surgical sperm retrieval—called TESE—for men with high sperm DNA fragmentation.
Patient: I’ve heard of that test. Doesn’t it measure the quality of sperm DNA? Isn’t DNA important for fertilisation?
Dr. Malpani: That’s exactly how patients are fooled. The test sounds very scientific, but it has little real-world value. Many IVF specialists themselves don’t fully understand genetics, yet they order this test for almost every man. And labs encourage it because it’s profitable.
Patient: So if the DNA fragmentation comes back high, what happens?
Dr. Malpani: The clinic will proudly say, “We’ve found the reason for your infertility.” Then they’ll recommend all kinds of useless “treatments”—antioxidants, lifestyle changes, and varicocele surgery. And when those don’t work, they’ll push you towards TESE, claiming that sperm taken directly from the testis will have lower fragmentation. That’s simply not true.
Patient: So TESE doesn’t actually help?
Dr. Malpani: Not at all. If sperm are already present in your semen, a surgical sperm retrieval—whether TESE, TESA, or PESA—is unnecessary. It doesn’t improve your chances of success, but it does increase cost, risk, and patient suffering.
Patient: That’s shocking! How can patients like me avoid getting trapped in these scams?
Dr. Malpani: The best protection is information therapy. Educate yourself, ask tough questions, and don’t accept vague or evasive answers. If your doctor can’t explain clearly why a test or procedure is necessary, that’s your cue to walk away. Remember, protecting your body and your wallet is your right.
Patient: Thank you, Dr Malpani. This really helps me feel more confident.
Dr. Malpani: I’m glad. My mission is to empower patients so they can make the right choices for themselves.