This guide has not been reviewed by a fertility specialist. It is general information drawn from the sources listed below, not medical advice; please discuss decisions with a registered gynaecologist or reproductive-medicine specialist.
How this page was produced
Drafted with AI assistance from a fixed set of public sources collected on 12 October 2026. Each cited statement was then checked against its source. Legal information is dated 12 October 2026; the Government of India announced a review of the ART and Surrogacy Acts in March 2026, so rules may change. Costs are shown only as published ranges and research estimates, never as our prices. We include no testimonials. Corrections are welcome through the contact page.
Start here
The short answer, and who this guide is for
IVF in Lucknow, as in the rest of India, may be carried out only by a clinic holding Level 2 registration under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) (Regulation) Act, 2021.[1],[2] One cycle takes about 4 to 6 weeks for most people.[3] Two clinic groups' published India-wide price pages list base cycles at roughly Rs 1.5 to 2.5 lakh, with extras often billed on top; these are marketing figures, not Lucknow prices.[4],[5] The chance of a baby depends strongly on age.[6]
This guide is for people in Lucknow and nearby districts considering, starting or having IVF, and their families. Read the law and clinic-checking sections before choosing a clinic, and cost before paying. It is general information, not medical advice (medical disclaimer), and we do not perform IVF. Tell your fertility team before adding anything new, such as yoga classes.
The process
What IVF is and how a cycle works, step by step (आईवीएफ क्या है और कैसे होता है)
IVF (in vitro fertilisation) means eggs are collected from the ovaries, fertilised with sperm in a laboratory, and one or more embryos are placed in the womb.[3],[7] A cycle combines hormone medicines, scans, egg collection and an embryo transfer.[3] "Test tube baby" is the everyday phrase for the same treatment.
How long does an IVF cycle take? In the UK, HFEA says four to six weeks for most people, or about three if the suppression stage is skipped.[3] The NHS says a full cycle takes around three to six weeks to complete.[7] Your clinic will give its own schedule; ask for it in writing.
IVF process step by step: a week-by-week timeline
Before the cycle
Assessment and consent
Blood tests for HIV and hepatitis B and C are offered,[7],[12] and an egg-reserve check (AMH or follicle count) helps predict how the ovaries will respond.[12],[13] Written consent is required under the ART Act, 2021.[1]
Up to 3 weeks, some protocols
Suppression
Some clinics use daily medicine for 2 to 3 weeks to stop natural egg release.[7] ESHRE (2025) recommends a different approach, called the antagonist protocol, which skips this stage, for most people having IVF or ICSI, citing comparable effectiveness and higher safety. Which protocol you get is your specialist's decision.[13]
About 2 weeks
Stimulation
The NHS describes daily injections for about 2 weeks to increase egg supply, with tests or scans to check how well it is working.[7]
End of stimulation
Trigger
One injection finishes egg maturation; your clinic decides when it is given.[13]
After the trigger
Egg collection
A needle passed through the vagina collects the eggs, with sedation or a general anaesthetic; the NHS says it takes around 20 minutes, HFEA around half an hour.[3],[7]
Next day
Fertilisation
Eggs are mixed with sperm in the laboratory, or a single sperm is injected into an egg (ICSI).[7],[14] The clinic calls the next day to say how many embryos formed.[7]
Days 2-6
Embryo transfer
Embryos grow in the laboratory for two to six days. A thin tube places an embryo in the womb, usually without anaesthetic.[3],[7] ESHRE recommends single embryo transfer as the standard whenever more than one embryo is available.[15]
The wait
Progesterone and test
ESHRE recommends progesterone support until at least the day of the pregnancy test.[13] The NHS puts the test about 16 days after transfer, with a scan around 7 weeks of pregnancy if it is positive.[7]
A frozen embryo transfer (FET) uses embryos frozen earlier.[3] In the UK, 48% of IVF cycles in 2024 were frozen embryo transfers.[6] These are UK and European timings; Indian clinics follow their own. Some people add gentle yoga and breathing practice for general wellbeing, as complementary support and not a treatment for infertility; tell your fertility team first and keep to the plan they set.
IVF terms in English, Hindi and Hinglish (आईवीएफ की शब्दावली)
| English term | Hindi (देवनागरी) | How people say it (Hinglish) |
|---|---|---|
| IVF (in vitro fertilisation) | आईवीएफ (इन विट्रो फर्टिलाइज़ेशन) | "IVF", "ivf kaise hota hai", "test tube baby kya hota hai" |
| IUI (intrauterine insemination) | आईयूआई (शुक्राणु को गर्भाशय में डालना) | "IUI" |
| ICSI | आईसीएसआई (एक शुक्राणु को सीधे अंडाणु में डालना) | "ICSI" |
| Egg (oocyte) collection | अंडाणु निकालना (ओवम पिक-अप) | "egg retrieval", "OPU" |
| Embryo | भ्रूण | "embryo" |
| Embryo transfer | भ्रूण प्रत्यारोपण (एम्ब्रियो ट्रांसफर) | "embryo transfer", "ET" |
| Frozen embryo transfer (FET) | जमे हुए भ्रूण का प्रत्यारोपण | "FET", "frozen transfer" |
| Pregnancy blood test (beta-hCG) | गर्भावस्था की रक्त जाँच (बीटा-एचसीजी) | "beta hCG test", "pregnancy report" |
| Live birth rate | जीवित जन्म दर | "live birth rate", "success rate" (loosely) |
| ART registration | एआरटी पंजीकरण (सहायक प्रजनन तकनीक अधिनियम, 2021) | "ART registration certificate" |
आईवीएफ (इन विट्रो फर्टिलाइज़ेशन) में आम तौर पर दवाइयों की मदद से अंडाशय में कई अंडाणु विकसित किए जाते हैं, उन्हें एक छोटी प्रक्रिया द्वारा निकाला जाता है, लैब में शुक्राणु से मिलाया जाता है, और बने भ्रूण को गर्भाशय में रखा जाता है।[3],[7] ब्रिटेन में एचएफ़ईए के अनुसार अधिकतर लोगों के लिए पूरा साइकल लगभग 4 से 6 हफ़्ते का होता है।[3] आईवीएफ केवल एआरटी अधिनियम, 2021 के तहत पंजीकृत क्लिनिक में ही किया जा सकता है।[1],[2] हम एक प्राकृतिक चिकित्सा और योग केंद्र हैं; हम आईवीएफ या कोई भी एआरटी प्रक्रिया नहीं करते।
Procedures compared
IVF vs IUI vs ICSI: how they differ and when each is used
The IUI and IVF difference is where fertilisation happens: IUI places prepared sperm in the womb, while IVF joins eggs and sperm in a laboratory. ICSI is IVF with one sperm injected into each egg.[3],[14]
| IUI | IVF | ICSI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What happens | Sperm placed in womb; fertilisation happens inside the body | Fertilised in a laboratory; embryo then placed in womb | One sperm injected into each egg, then as IVF |
| Often considered when | Donor sperm, difficulty having intercourse, or some cases of unexplained infertility (usually with ovarian stimulation) | Blocked tubes, unexplained infertility after simpler steps have not worked, other treatments unsuccessful | Significant male-factor problem, or poor fertilisation before |
| Not suitable when | Blocked tubes, severe endometriosis, few eggs, male-factor infertility | Specialist decides case by case | Not shown to help if semen tests normal |
| UK cost and success (HFEA) | Cost about a quarter of IVF; success about a third | Reference point | Success similar to IVF; may add cost |
Is ICSI better than conventional IVF?
NICE (2026) says: "Do not use ICSI for non-male factor fertility problems if the semen parameters are normal."[12] For couples with unexplained infertility who go on to IVF after stimulated IUI has been unsuccessful, WHO (2025) strongly recommends IVF alone rather than IVF with ICSI, though the evidence is of low certainty.[17] The HFEA lists very low sperm count and poor fertilisation in an earlier IVF cycle among the reasons to use it.[14] ESHRE reports that ICSI use in Europe rose from 35% of ART cycles in 1997 to over 70% in 2018, although male-factor infertility stayed stable.[11]
Do guidelines agree on trying IUI before IVF?
No. For unexplained infertility, WHO (2025) suggests expectant management first (typically 3 to 6 months in studies), meaning lifestyle advice and fertile-day guidance with monitoring, then stimulated IUI.[17] NICE (2026, UK) advises trying for a total of 2 years before treatment for unexplained infertility, then offering IVF or considering up to 4 cycles of IUI with hormone stimulation.[12] These pathways apply only after tests in both partners are normal. They are not a reason to wait if the woman is 35 or older (ASRM advises evaluation after 6 months; NICE advises referral at the first visit from age 36), if there is a known cause such as irregular periods or endometriosis, or if you have not yet had tests.[12],[18]
When you see a specialist, ask which guideline the plan follows and how your age, time spent trying and test results shape it. Do not let reading or preparation delay an assessment.
Eligibility and timing
Who may need IVF, when to see a specialist, and the age limit in India
How common is difficulty conceiving, and who may need IVF?
The infertility definition used by WHO is failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sex, and WHO estimates that about 1 in 6 people of reproductive age experience it at some point.[19] Who needs IVF is decided case by case: it is usually considered when simpler steps are unsuitable or have not worked.
The WHO fact sheet gives no India-specific figure, and Indian estimates vary with how infertility is defined. A 2026 analysis of NFHS-5 (2019-21) survey data found 3.3% primary and 13.9% secondary infertility among currently married women aged 15-49. It used a survey-based definition (one year of marriage plus pregnancy and contraceptive-use criteria), not a clinical test.[20]
Causes are shared between partners. In an older WHO multicentre study of 8,500 couples (WHO notes the data are dated), female factors alone accounted for 30.6%, male factors alone 18.7%, both 26.3%, and no cause was found in 10.8%; male factors contributed in part or whole in 45.1%.[17] Guidelines advise assessing both partners.[12]
IVF may be discussed where simpler IUI will not be appropriate, such as blocked tubes, severe endometriosis, low ovarian reserve (fewer eggs than expected for age) or male-factor infertility.[16] It may also come up for ovulation problems in PCOS when first- or second-line ovulation induction has failed,[21] or for unexplained difficulty after simpler steps.[12] The 2025 WHO guideline says the least expensive effective treatments should be provided first.[17]
When should you see a fertility specialist?
The first step is a visit to a registered gynaecologist or reproductive-medicine specialist; this centre is not a fertility clinic. General lifestyle reading does not replace an assessment and should not delay one.
What is the age limit for IVF in India?
- Women, ART servicesART Act 2021 s.21(g)[1]
- Above 21, below 50
- Men, ART servicesART Act 2021 s.21(g)[1]
- Above 21, below 55
ART is assisted reproductive technology, the Act's term for procedures such as IVF. Courts have considered individual cases, so ask the clinic how the rule applies to you. Age also lowers the chance of success whatever the law says, so the legal window is not a reason to wait. In UK data, preliminary 2024 IVF birth rates per embryo transferred were 38% at ages 18-34 and 8% at 43-44; these are UK averages, not a prediction for any one person.[6]
Know your rights
What the law says: India's ART (Regulation) Act, 2021 in plain language
Who is allowed to perform IVF in India?
Only clinics registered under the ART (Regulation) Act, 2021 may perform IVF, and it needs Level 2 ART registration; Level 1 clinics may do IUI only.[1],[2] Ask to see the registration certificate first.
| Topic | What the law says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Who may perform IVF | Level 2 ART clinics: IVF/ICSI, egg collection, transfer, freezing. Level 1: IUI only.[1],[2] | Act s.15; Rules r.3 |
| ART registration certificate | Valid five years; displayed conspicuously, showing its validity period.[1] | s.16(6)-(7) |
| Age | Woman above 21 and below 50; man above 21 and below 55.[1] | s.21(g) |
| Counselling and cost | Clinic explains success chances, pros and cons, cost, side effects, multiple-pregnancy risk.[1] | s.21(c) |
| Consent | Written informed consent of all parties; withdrawable before embryo transfer.[1] | s.22 |
| Embryo transfer limit | Normally 1-2; three only in exceptional cases like advanced maternal age; never above three.[1],[22] ESHRE advises single-embryo transfer, because each extra embryo raises the chance of twins or more, which carry risks (see the risks section).[15],[23] | Regulations 2023 reg.3; Act s.24(b) |
| Embryo genetic testing (PGT) | Only to screen for known, pre-existing, heritable or genetic diseases, when medically indicated.[1],[2] | s.25; Rules r.13 |
| Grievances | Every clinic keeps a grievance cell.[1],[2] | s.21(f); Rules r.11 |
Consent and counselling under Indian rules
A registered clinic must explain success chances, cost, side effects and multiple-pregnancy risk, then obtain written informed consent, which you can withdraw before embryo transfer.[1] Its statutory consent form states that no pregnancy is certain.[2]
Other legal limits: donors, surrogacy and prohibited practices
Donor eggs and sperm can be obtained only through registered ART banks, and surrogacy is altruistic-only under a separate Act.[1],[24] We do not arrange, advertise or recommend donors or surrogates.
Choose with care
How to check an IVF clinic's ART registration, and what to ask before you pay
To check IVF clinic registration, ask to see the clinic's assisted reproductive technology (ART) registration certificate, read its level and end date, then look the clinic up on the national list. IVF and ICSI (injecting one sperm into an egg) need a Level 2 clinic.[2] Uttar Pradesh readers should read the dated note below first. Then use the questions below before you choose a clinic.
How do I check whether an IVF clinic is ART-registered?
Ask for the certificate and number
A registered clinic must display its certificate, with its validity, in a conspicuous place.[1]
Search the public list
Look up the clinic by name in the Government of India's list of registered clinics, which shows registration numbers and certificate PDFs. Uttar Pradesh clinics may not appear there; see the note below.[27]
Check the treating gynaecologist
Search the doctor by name or registration number on the National Medical Commission's Indian Medical Register. The page says its data is being updated.[28]
What the national registry list shows for Uttar Pradesh
Questions to ask any IVF clinic before you pay
- Registration number, clinic level and the date registration ends.
- Which doctors will treat me, and their NMC registration numbers?
- An itemised written estimate, including what it excludes.
- Live births per embryo transferred for my age band and year, and what each figure counts.[30]
- How many embryos do you usually transfer, and why?
- Which add-ons do you suggest, and what is the evidence?
- What happens if a cycle is cancelled or no embryo forms?
- Who can I call out of hours if I have warning signs such as OHSS symptoms, and where is the grievance cell?
We are not an IVF clinic. This section names, ranks and recommends no clinic. See our medical disclaimer and general FAQ, or report a correction to this page.
Money
IVF cost in India and Lucknow: published ranges and real-world spending (आईवीएफ का खर्च कितना होता है)
One clinic group advertises a fresh IVF cycle in India at Rs 1.5-2.5 lakh, before medicines.[4] In a government-commissioned study, couples actually paid an average of Rs 1.10 lakh out of pocket at public hospitals and Rs 2.38 lakh at private hospitals, of which direct health costs were only 44%.[8]
How much does IVF cost in India? Published price ranges
A basic fresh IVF cycle is advertised at about Rs 1.5-2.5 lakh in India, and that headline often leaves out stimulation medicines, listed at Rs 30,000-80,000 by one provider.[4] So the IVF cost per cycle including medicines is higher than the headline. ICSI, freezing and other add-ons are often billed on top.
| Item | Published range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Base fresh IVF cycle (headline) | Rs 1.5-2.5 lakh (first provider, 13 Jun 2026)[4]; Rs 1.50-1.95 lakh in a package (second provider)[5] | Often excludes medicines |
| Stimulation medicines | Rs 30,000-80,000 per cycle (first provider)[4]; Rs 60,000-90,000 for "stimulation & injections" and "ICSI (if needed)" together, listed as add-ons in the second provider's comparison with a "typical" IVF package (its own package is described as a fixed-cost package, quoted as one price range with no separate add-on lines)[5] | The second provider's page gives Rs 1.90-3.00 lakh for what it calls a "typical" package with these add-ons, against Rs 1.50-1.95 lakh for its own package[5] |
| ICSI add-on | About Rs 15,000-45,000 extra (first provider)[4]; no separate ICSI price on the second provider's page[5] | ESHRE does not recommend ICSI without male-factor infertility; ask why it is advised[11] |
| Frozen embryo transfer cycle | Rs 50,000-80,000 (first provider)[4] | A later transfer of a frozen embryo |
| IUI cycle | Rs 8,000-20,000 (first provider)[4]; "starting at Rs 12,000" for an IUI package (second provider)[5] | The second provider excludes donor-bank charges[5] |
| Multi-cycle package (one provider) | One cycle Rs 1.50-1.95 lakh; three cycles Rs 2.95-3.45 lakh[5] | Blastocyst culture and laser hatching: excluded from the one-cycle package, included in the three-cycle package |
What do couples in India actually spend? The ICMR-NIRRCH study
- mean out-of-pocket spend for IVF, public hospitals[8]
- Rs 1,10,104
- mean out-of-pocket spend for IVF, private hospitals[8]
- Rs 2,37,851
- of couples faced catastrophic health expenditure for IVF[8]
- 85%
- of couples had current insurance coverage[8]
- 5%
The January 2025 Policy Brief draws on 3 public and 2 private tertiary hospitals, with 149 participants undergoing IVF.[8] Direct health costs were only 44% of total out-of-pocket spending, so these figures are not a clinic bill.[8] "Catastrophic" means spending heavy enough to strain household finances.
IVF cost in Lucknow: what we could and could not verify
We found no dated, itemised IVF cost in Lucknow from a clinic price list. The only Lucknow-labelled figure is an aggregator estimate updated 14 December 2023: Rs 75,000 lowest, Rs 1,20,000 average, Rs 1,50,000 highest.[32] The page itself calls it "just an estimate", sourced from "patients, visitors, or hospital partners". It mostly sits below the India-wide ranges and below the private-hospital study mean, so do not budget from it. Ask two or three ART-registered clinics for itemised written estimates.
What a written IVF estimate should itemise
Under section 21(c)(ii) of the ART (Regulation) Act, 2021, a registered clinic must inform the couple of the cost of the procedures.[1] Ask for these items in writing.
- Consultation, diagnostics
- Stimulation medicines: included or not
- Monitoring scans
- Egg collection, sedation
- Laboratory work; ICSI and why
- Embryo freezing, yearly storage
- Add-ons, each with its evidence
- Transfer, later medicines, frozen transfer
- Refund if the cycle is cancelled
The UK fertility regulator (HFEA) suggests that people paying for themselves consider whether several cycles of proven treatment are better value than one cycle with add-ons not proven to be effective.[33]
Does insurance or a government scheme pay for IVF?
Many Indian health policies exclude IVF: the exclusion code Excl17 covers sterility and infertility treatment, including IVF and ICSI, and Excl13 covers treatment in nature cure clinics, as reproduced in an exclusions annexure published by the IIT Kanpur Health Centre.[34] So do not assume the services we actually provide are reimbursable either. Policy wording varies, so ask your insurer in writing.
"Kya IVF Ayushman card se hota hai?" (Does the Ayushman card cover IVF?) Not as a settled benefit, as far as we could find: the January 2025 Policy Brief said efforts were being made to include IVF in schemes like PM-JAY, so do not assume the card covers it.[8] As of October 2026 we could not find a Uttar Pradesh scheme funding IVF, or a published IVF service or tariff at KGMU, SGPGI or RMLIMS. Our search may have missed something and services change, so ask their outpatient departments directly.
In NFHS-5 (2019-21), a survey estimate, 15.8% of Lucknow district households had any usual member covered by a health insurance or financing scheme, against 15.9% across Uttar Pradesh; the survey may not fully reflect Ayushman Bharat cover.[35][36] That suggests many families will fund treatment themselves.
The numbers
IVF success rates by age: what the percentages really mean (आईवीएफ की सफलता दर का असली मतलब)
There is no single IVF success rate: the figure depends on the outcome counted and the group counted,[37] and on the age of the person treated,[6],[30] so every percentage needs a label. The data below are UK and US registry figures, not this centre's results; our disclaimer explains how we use outside statistics.
What counts as success: pregnancy, clinical pregnancy or live birth?
| Term | Meaning | Compared with live birth |
|---|---|---|
| Biochemical pregnancy | A pregnancy found only by detecting beta hCG (pregnancy hormone) in blood or urine. | Not yet a baby |
| Clinical pregnancy | An ultrasound shows a gestational sac, or there are definite clinical signs. It includes a documented ectopic pregnancy. | A stronger sign than a test, but still not a birth |
| Live birth | A baby born alive after 22 completed weeks of pregnancy. | The reference outcome |
| Cumulative live birth rate | Deliveries with a live birth from one initiated or egg-collection cycle, counting fresh and frozen transfers until a live birth or until all embryos are used. | Higher than one transfer, as it counts several transfers |
IVF success rate by age: UK and US data
In one 2023 US dataset (SART), people under 35 show three different "success rates": 39.4% live birth per intended egg retrieval (cycle start, first transfer only), 53.5% per first embryo transfer and 68.2% per new patient across all their treatment.[38] Never compare numbers across the charts below. The UK chart shows fresh transfers in 2022 (35% at 18-34 and 5% at 43-44); the 38% at 18-34 and 8% at 43-44 quoted elsewhere on this page are HFEA's 2024 preliminary figures for fresh and frozen transfers combined, so the two differ.[6],[39]
- 18-3435%
- 35-3726%
- 38-3918%
- 40-4210%
- 43-445%
Source: HFEA, Fertility treatment 2022. Excludes donor-egg, PGT and surrogacy cycles; birth data not yet validated.[39]
- Under 3553.5%
- 35-3750.8%
- 38-4046.1%
- 41-4236.3%
- Over 4217.7%
Source: SART final national summary 2023, all cycle types. The denominator is first embryo transfers, not cycles started; counting every egg collection started (first transfer only), the same age groups were 39.4%, 31.0%, 21.3%, 11.3% and 3.7%.[38]
Why advertised IVF success rates cannot be compared
- Different outcomes: positive-test, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates are defined separately,[37] and a pregnancy rate is typically higher than the live birth rate.[39]
- Different denominators: per cycle started, per egg collection or per embryo transferred.[30],[37]
- Different age mix: a clinic treating younger patients looks better.[38],[39]
- Different case mix: donor-egg treatment "may show an inflated success rate", and PGT-A (embryo genetic testing) can too.[30]
- Selective denominators: counting only cycles that reached embryo transfer leaves out cycles cancelled earlier or with no embryo, while births per cycle started counts every cycle from the start of stimulation.[30],[37]
- Registries warn against ranking: SART (a professional society) says its data "should not be used for comparing clinics", and the US CDC says clinic comparisons "may not be meaningful".[38],[40]
Is there an IVF success rate for India or Lucknow?
We could not verify any national IVF success rate in India: the national ART registry page we checked lists no outcome data. A 2022 paper on one Bengaluru hospital (1,989 women treated in 2015-2019) reported a cumulative live birth rate per egg collection of 47.45% at age 35 or under and 32.72% above 35.[41] It cannot be generalised to Lucknow, and we found no verifiable Lucknow figure. So a trustworthy IVF success figure is one that states the outcome, denominator, age band and year; treat any single advertised percentage as unverified until it does.
Before you pay for extras
IVF add-ons: which extras have evidence and which do not
Many IVF add-ons, the optional extra tests and treatments sold with a cycle, have not been shown to raise the chance of a baby. The UK regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), says routine cycles of proven treatment work for most patients without them, and that if you are self-funding, several proven cycles may be better value than one cycle with unproven extras.[33]
The HFEA rates each add-on by colour: green means effective, yellow unclear, grey cannot be rated, black no effect, and red may reduce effectiveness or raise safety concerns. A 2023 consensus statement agreed by the HFEA and other professional and patient bodies also says patients should not be charged extra to take part in research.[33]
| Add-on | HFEA rating (UK) | NICE 2026 / ESHRE 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| ICSI (single-sperm injection) when sperm tests are normal | No scientific evidence of benefit if infertility is not related to the male partner's sperm[14] | NICE: do not offer. ESHRE: not recommended |
| Embryo chromosome screening (PGT-A) | Red for chances of a baby; green for reducing miscarriage (most patients); grey for older women (both outcomes)[33] | NICE: do not offer to improve live birth. ESHRE: not recommended routinely |
| Endometrial scratch (scratching the womb lining) | Yellow | NICE: do not offer. ESHRE: not recommended |
| Time-lapse imaging of embryos | Black | ESHRE: not recommended to improve live birth |
| Assisted hatching | Grey | NICE: do not offer. ESHRE: not recommended |
| Endometrial receptivity testing | Red | NICE: do not offer |
| Immune treatments (IVIG, steroids, intralipid) | Red for IVIG and steroids; grey for intralipid | NICE: do not use. ESHRE: not recommended |
| Hyaluronate transfer medium ("embryo glue") | Yellow | ESHRE: recommended, with single-embryo transfer. HFEA rates it unclear |
In India, the ART Act and Rules restrict preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) to screening embryos for known, pre-existing, heritable or genetic diseases, when medically indicated.[1],[2] Ask the registered clinic to explain exactly how these rules apply to any test it proposes.
This page recommends no add-on, and yoga or diet support is not one. See what the evidence says about naturopathy.
Safety
IVF risks and side effects, and when to see a doctor urgently
Is IVF safe? The UK regulator, the HFEA, says fertility treatment is generally very safe and most people have no problems. Its main risk is a multiple birth.[23]
What are the main risks of IVF?
The main IVF side effects and risks are multiple pregnancy, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), ectopic pregnancy, rare procedure complications and a slightly higher chance of some pregnancy complications. The HFEA says that even where research suggests a higher risk of pregnancy complications, your own overall risk remains low.[23]
- Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). A reaction to fertility drugs that leaves the ovaries swollen and painful. Around a third of women have a mild form, usually treated at home; severe OHSS is life-threatening only very rarely.[23]
- Multiple pregnancy. The UK multiple-birth rate from IVF fell from 14.4% in 2014 to 3.2% in 2024 (preliminary), with 84% of 2024 transfers single-embryo.[6] Indian regulations (2023) normally allow 1-2 embryos, three only exceptionally;[22] ESHRE (2024) recommends single-embryo transfer at all ages.[15]
- Ectopic pregnancy. A pregnancy implanting outside the womb is a recognised IVF risk.[3],[7],[23]
- Procedures and pregnancy after IVF. Infection, bleeding and bowel perforation are rare. The HFEA reports a slightly higher risk of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and high blood pressure in pregnancy than with natural conception, but says your own overall risk remains low and that research is ongoing.[23] Tell your antenatal doctor that the pregnancy followed IVF and keep all antenatal checks.
Red flags: when to get urgent medical help
OHSS symptoms usually start in the week after egg collection, but late-onset OHSS also occurs, so do not wait for the next scan to see a doctor.[13],[23] Ask your clinic at the start for an out-of-hours number. If you do yoga, stop and call the clinic, and tell your yoga teacher you are in a treatment cycle. We are not medical doctors and cannot assess symptoms; never stop prescribed medicines without asking your fertility team. See our medical disclaimer.
Special situations
IVF with PCOS, endometriosis, low ovarian reserve, male factor and repeated failure
Each situation below changes the usual IVF path differently. These are guideline summaries, not advice for your case; your treating fertility specialist decides the plan.
IVF with PCOS: what changes
IVF with PCOS is usually considered after first- and second-line ovulation induction (medicines that prompt egg release) has failed. The 2023 international guideline says IVF could be offered then, and that people should be counselled beforehand about ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), an over-response to stimulation.[21]
For PCOS and IVF together, the guideline recommends a type of stimulation plan called the GnRH antagonist protocol, which allows a trigger that lowers the risk of OHSS and lets all embryos be frozen for a later transfer if needed, and elective single embryo transfer to limit multiple pregnancies. It also recommends lifestyle intervention for all women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to improve metabolic health, and calls inositol supplements experimental as a fertility therapy.[21] Your specialist decides the rest.
IVF and endometriosis
For endometriosis, NICE (2026) says to discuss waiting for up to 2 years (including time already spent trying) or surgery. If there is still no pregnancy, it says to consider up to 4 cycles of intrauterine insemination (IUI, sperm placed in the womb) with ovarian stimulation before IVF, if appropriate, or to offer IVF.[12]
The choice weighs time spent trying, symptoms, age, ovarian reserve and male factors.[12] This page makes no claim that diet, massage or yoga changes endometriosis; your gynaecologist guides the plan.
IVF after 40 and low ovarian reserve
IVF after 40 has lower birth rates per embryo transferred than at younger ages. UK IVF birth rates per embryo transferred, using patients' own eggs, were 8% at ages 43 to 44 and 38% at 18 to 34 (2024, preliminary; not Indian data).[6]
Low ovarian reserve means fewer eggs than expected for age. To plan IVF stimulation, NICE (2026) says to use an anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) blood test or an ultrasound antral follicle count (AFC), and to counsel on IVF outcomes, not to predict natural conception.[12] ESHRE defines a low response to stimulation as three or fewer follicles or eggs.[13] Under the Indian ART Act, clinics provide ART to a woman above 21 and below 50 (section 21(g)).[1] Your fertility specialist interprets these numbers for your case.
Male factor: the partner's part in IVF
In male factor infertility, the male partner is assessed too, starting with a semen analysis (a lab check of sperm number, movement and shape). The WHO infertility guideline uses its semen reference ranges to decide whether a semen analysis is repeated: if one or more results fall outside them, it suggests repeating the test.[17]
An abnormal result is repeated (WHO: after at least 11 weeks; NICE: ideally 3 months, sooner if no sperm or a very low count is found).[12],[17] Ask your doctor to continue the other partner's assessment in the meantime rather than waiting for the repeat. NICE says to consider ICSI (injecting one sperm into an egg) when semen parameters are abnormal, taking severity into account, and not to use it when semen is normal. It also covers surgical sperm retrieval for azoospermia, meaning no sperm in the semen.[12] A urologist or andrologist leads this assessment.
Repeated implantation failure and pregnancy loss
Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is the term used when embryo transfers repeatedly fail to produce a pregnancy; ESHRE's add-ons paper refers to separate good-practice recommendations on RIF and says screening hysteroscopy can be considered in these patients, whereas NICE (2026) advises against hysteroscopy before IVF unless an abnormality is suspected, so guidelines differ.[11],[12] It and repeated pregnancy loss both deserve specialist review.
The ESHRE add-ons recommendations advise against many promoted extras here: immunomodulating treatments are not recommended, and endometrial injury (scratching) is not recommended for routine clinical use.[11] Discuss any offered test or treatment with your specialist first.
Preparation
How to prepare for IVF: sleep, weight, food, tobacco, alcohol and supplements (आईवीएफ से पहले क्या करें)
Why people talk about preparing for three months
People talk about three months because sperm take about 64 days to be produced and appear in the ejaculate (range 42-76, in 11 men with normal sperm concentrations), so semen reflects roughly the previous two to two and a half months; three months is a common planning allowance.[42] Healthy habits are sensible, but preparing has not been shown to raise IVF live births; trials of weight loss before IVF in women with obesity gave an unclear effect on live birth, though they suggested more pregnancies overall, mostly from unassisted conception.[43]
Evidence-graded checklist: what is supported, unclear or unproven
How to prepare for IVF, graded by evidence. Supported: guidelines or pooled studies back it. Unclear: findings conflict or are only observational, which shows association, not cause. Unproven: no good evidence of benefit.
| What | What studies show | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Stop tobacco, including gutka and chewing tobacco | Smokers had lower live birth per cycle (2009 meta-analysis);[44] smokeless tobacco was linked to poorer sperm motility, mostly South Asian data.[45] | Supported |
| Alcohol, tea and coffee | NICE: for women trying to conceive, the safest approach is no alcohol; for men, excessive drinking harms semen quality; no consistent tea or coffee link.[12] | Alcohol: supported. Tea, coffee: no clear effect |
| Healthy weight | BMI 30 or more (the cut-off used in the study) was linked to lower live birth (2019 meta-analysis);[46] weight-loss trials have not clearly shown more live births;[43] ask your doctor what weight range is healthy for you. | Unclear |
| Balanced or Mediterranean-style diet | Observational studies link it to somewhat better results; association is not proof.[47] | Unclear |
| Sleep | Sleep-disordered breathing, mostly sleep apnoea, is linked to lower IVF success in observational studies.[48] | Unclear |
| Folic acid before pregnancy | The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends a daily folic acid supplement from at least a month before conception to lower neural-tube defect risk; a doctor should confirm the dose. It is not a fertility treatment.[49] | Supported, for that purpose |
| Antioxidant mixes, detox, juice fasting | Antioxidant evidence for live birth is low to very low quality;[50] ESHRE does not recommend antioxidant therapy in assisted reproduction, and does not recommend complementary therapies such as detoxing, for which it found too few studies to draw conclusions.[11] Avoid detox plans, juice fasting and colon cleansing at all times before and during treatment; they have no proven benefit. Anyone with diabetes, kidney disease or an eating disorder, or who may be pregnant, should not fast or change their diet or medicines sharply without medical advice. | Unproven |
Preparing for IVF as a man means the same steps: NICE says raised scrotal temperature is associated with reduced semen quality but it is uncertain whether wearing loose-fitting underwear improves fertility, so keeping the laptop on a desk rather than the lap is only a cautious step.[12] Allow about three months for changes to show in semen; a doctor should request any repeat semen analysis. If you snore loudly with daytime sleepiness, ask a doctor whether a sleep check is warranted; the review behind this does not support routine sleep screening for everyone, and it is not yet known whether treating sleep apnoea improves IVF results.[48]
Eating well in Lucknow: an everyday Indian-diet note
What to eat before IVF (ivf se pehle kya khana chahiye)? No special IVF diet has been proven.[47] Dal, sabzi, roti or rice, curd, nuts and seasonal fruit make a sound everyday base, and a vegetarian diet is not known to harm semen quality: a meta-analysis of observational studies found no conclusive difference in semen quality between vegetarians and omnivores.[51]
Local context, as survey estimates and not a verdict on anyone: in NFHS-5 (2019-21), among women aged 15-49 in Uttar Pradesh, 53.5% ate pulses daily, 57.4% ate dark green leafy vegetables daily and only 7.4% ate fruit daily.[36] In Lucknow district, 34.8% were overweight or obese and 55.8% anaemic, against 21.3% and 50.4% across the state.[35][36] Ask a doctor about iron, B12 and vitamin D tests before self-supplementing. For general diet information, see our nutrition guidance.
Complementary support, not treatment
How yoga, nutrition and stress-management support can sit alongside IVF
What research says about yoga and stress support during fertility treatment
Yoga and other mind-body programmes can lower distress during fertility treatment, but we found no adequately sized trial showing that yoga for IVF raises the chance of a baby. A 2023 meta-analysis of 58 trials of psychological programmes (not yoga specifically) found a modest pregnancy effect in the 21 trials that measured pregnancy, but rated the evidence low to moderate certainty overall (moderate for pregnancy), with most trials at high risk of bias; it is not a result for yoga or for any session we offer.[10]
One randomised trial of 128 women at a private IVF clinic found that twice-weekly yoga for six weeks reduced fertility-problem stress; pregnancy was not measured.[9] So, does yoga help IVF? It may ease stress; its effect on results is unknown.
What the evidence does not show
ESHRE (2023) counts yoga, massage, meditation and detoxing among complementary therapies, and does not recommend acupuncture, herbal medicine or other complementary therapies to improve IVF outcomes.[11] NICE (UK, 2026) says the effectiveness of complementary therapies for fertility problems "has not been properly evaluated".[12] HFEA (UK) says they may be suggested for relaxation or general wellbeing but are not usually offered in licensed clinics.[33] In a survey at one Irish IVF unit (conducted in 2007, published 2010), 46% of women attending for procedures involving sedation regularly used herbal medicines; none of those users had discussed them with the anaesthetist or fertility specialist.[52]
| Practice | What studies show | Our position |
|---|---|---|
| Yoga and breathing | Lower stress in one trial; pregnancy effect unproven[9] | Offered for wellbeing |
| Meditation and relaxation | Psychological programmes: less distress; pregnancy effect uncertain[10] | Offered for wellbeing |
| Diet guidance | Mostly observational links; results inconsistent[47] | Offered, no claims |
| Acupuncture | No live-birth gain versus sham around embryo transfer[53] | Not offered as IVF support |
| Herbal and Ayurvedic products | In a 2008 JAMA study of 193 US- and Indian-made Ayurvedic medicines bought online in 2005, 20.7% had detectable lead, mercury or arsenic; products on sale today may differ[54] | We recommend or sell none for IVF |
| Detox, colon cleansing, fasting, wet cupping, castor-oil packs, abdominal massage | ESHRE lists detoxing and massage among complementary therapies it does not recommend, finding too few studies to draw conclusions[11] | Not offered as IVF preparation |
Safe practice during a cycle: ask your clinic first
Before doing yoga during IVF stimulation, ask your clinic. Stimulated ovaries can become very large, and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a recognised risk.[23] Precaution, not proven: avoid strong twists, inversions, deep abdominal pressure and intense heat unless your unit agrees. HFEA lists a swollen, painful stomach, vomiting, breathlessness and faintness as warning signs.[23] If they appear, stop and call your clinic at once.
IVF bed rest after embryo transfer did not improve results in five randomised trials (1,002 women), so strict bed rest has not been shown to help; follow your unit's advice on activity.[55] We found no studies of hot yoga or steam rooms around transfer.
What our support looks like, and what we do not do
Our team includes Nand Lal Yadav, naturopathy and yoga practitioner (Post-Graduate Diploma in Naturopathic Science and Yoga, University of Lucknow, 2010). Naturopathy and IVF are different things: see what naturopathy involves and is naturopathy safe? the evidence.
What we offer in this role
Gentle yoga and pranayama (breathing) through our yoga classes, kept within what your clinic advises; guided relaxation; sleep and routine support; balanced Indian diet guidance from our dietician service. We ask for your treatment plan and for your fertility team's agreement before any session during stimulation or after embryo transfer, time sessions around your scans and follow your specialist's advice. Ask us about wellbeing sessions.
What we do not do
We do not perform IVF, IUI, retrieval, transfer or any ART procedure. Our naturopathy and yoga practitioners are not medical doctors and do not diagnose or treat infertility. We do not prescribe, change or advise on fertility drugs, sell herbal supplements, or promise a pregnancy or higher IVF success, and we do not give personal advice on your IVF chances, costs or procedures; this page only summarises published information. We do not arrange donors, surrogates or paid referrals, and never advise delaying, skipping or stopping IVF.
Wellbeing
The emotional side of IVF, and what to do if a cycle does not work (अगर आईवीएफ साइकल सफल न हो तो आगे क्या करें)
IVF stress is common. The ESHRE psychosocial guideline says most patients feel some emotional distress, and around 20% develop clinically significant problems. The same guideline reports that around 23% of patients stop treatment early, and the psychological burden of treatment is one of the reasons patients give.[56]
Coping with IVF stress as a couple and with family
Stress usually peaks at egg collection, embryo transfer and the wait before the pregnancy test.[56] Feeling anxious or low was not linked to a lower chance of getting pregnant in a 2011 meta-analysis of 14 prospective studies, which found no association between pre-treatment anxiety or depression and achieving pregnancy after a single cycle; persistent low mood still deserves support.[57]
- Decide who comes to scans and who handles money questions.
- Agree what to tell relatives, and ask them to limit questions about "good news".
- Keep a small routine of sleep, a walk and slow breathing.
- A partner who is not being treated may be struggling too.
WHO notes that infertility can bring social stigma, emotional stress, depression and anxiety, particularly for women.[19] Blame is misplaced: in an older WHO multicentre study, male factors contributed wholly or partly to about 45% of infertility cases.[17]
What to do after an unsuccessful IVF cycle
When people ask "IVF failed, what next?", the first step is a review appointment with the treating clinic. Ask how many eggs were collected and fertilised, how the embryos graded and what will change. Ask which further tests are justified and which add-ons are not. A second opinion is reasonable, and your clinic will advise how long to wait before another cycle.
ESHRE reports that 1 to 2 in 10 women have clinically significant depressive symptoms after being told treatment failed, so ask for support early.[56] The NHS (England) says counselling is recommended for anyone having IVF and that clinics should offer a counsellor.[7] Ask yours whether IVF counselling is available.
Yoga, breathing and relaxation can help you cope. They have not been shown to raise the chance of a baby and do not replace medical care; tell your fertility team first, and do not let them delay your review. We are not a counselling service: for persistent low mood, ask your clinic's counsellor or a psychologist. See our breathing and relaxation sessions or ask about wellbeing support. Neelam Kumari (Diploma in Naturopathy and Yogic Science, D.N.Y.S., Akhil Bharatiya Prakritik Chikitsa Parishad, 2009-2011) is not a medical doctor.
Local planning
Having IVF in Lucknow: travel, time off and what to bring
IVF in Lucknow means repeat monitoring visits for scans and blood tests across a cycle that typically takes several weeks, so travel and time off work are part of the plan, whether you live in the city or come from outside.[3] This section is planning advice only; the treating clinic sets the real schedule.
Getting around Lucknow by road, rail and air
Our wellness centre, which is not an IVF clinic, is in Gomti Nagar; see how to find us in Gomti Nagar. Your IVF clinic may be anywhere in the city, so the distances below are measured from Gomti Nagar and are only a rough guide to travel across Lucknow; ask your own clinic where it is. Charbagh is the city's largest and busiest railway station, the airport is at Amausi and the inter-state bus terminal is at Alambagh.[58] By road from Gomti Nagar, Charbagh is roughly 11 to 12 km away, Alambagh roughly 14 to 16 km and the airport roughly 21 km (approximate OpenStreetMap routing distances, not travel times).
For longer journeys, Barabanki is about 25 km by road, Sitapur about 90 to 95 km and Kanpur about 100 km (again approximate OpenStreetMap routing distances from Gomti Nagar).
What to bring and how to plan your time
- Photo ID.
- Previous reports and scan films.
- A list of all medicines, supplements and herbs.
- The written estimate and consent forms, with receipts to compare against it.
- Your partner's semen report, if available.
- Insurance papers (even if IVF is excluded, other cover may apply).
In a 2016 UK survey of more than 865 fertility patients, those who took time off work took an average of 8.74 days per treatment cycle, and half took up to a week; the same factsheet notes there is no automatic UK legal right to time off for treatment (UK data, not specific to IVF).[59] We have not verified Indian rules, so speak to your employer early.
Summer afternoons are very hot and winter smog can affect North Indian cities, so plan journeys outside the hottest hours and ask your clinic how to carry and store any temperature-sensitive medicines. Check the live air-quality index before outdoor yoga. Yoga, diet or relaxation sessions are general wellbeing support, not part of IVF and not a treatment for infertility; tell your fertility team about any change, and contact us if you want sessions timed around your scans.
Next steps
Your next steps, and how Lucknow Naturopathy can help
Write down your questions
Use the checklists earlier on this page so nothing is forgotten at the first visit.
Get written estimates
Ask for an itemised written estimate, and for success figures that state the outcome, denominator, age band and year.
Share your plan
Tell your fertility specialist about every supplement, herb or therapy before you start it, and keep taking prescribed medicines.
Plan your support
Think about sleep, food, movement and, if useful, counselling. Wellness plans should never delay or replace treatment.
We are a naturopathy and yoga centre, and we do not perform IVF. If you are considering IVF in Lucknow, you can ask us about general wellbeing support, such as gentle yoga, diet guidance, relaxation and sleep support, that fits around your specialist's plan. Our practitioners, Nand Lal Yadav and Neelam Kumari, are not medical doctors; their qualifications are listed in the team section of this page.
Support alongside your treatment plan
We cannot give a medical opinion on IVF and we cannot promise any outcome. If you would like yoga, diet or relaxation support that fits around the plan your fertility specialist sets, call or write to us and bring your clinic's schedule.
Who wrote this guide, and their qualifications
Qualifications are shown exactly as they appear on the certificates we hold. Neither author is a medical doctor, and neither diagnoses or treats infertility. For medical decisions, see a registered gynaecologist or reproductive-medicine specialist.
Nand Lal Yadav
Naturopathy and yoga practitioner, founder of Lucknow Naturopathy
Leads the yoga and naturopathy programmes at the centre. Holds the qualifications below; he is not an MBBS or MD physician.
Verified credentials
- Post-Graduate Diploma in Naturopathic Science and Yoga, University of Lucknow (First Division, 2010)
- Bachelor of Yoga and Naturopathy, Uttarakhand Open University (First Division, 2017-18)
- Post-Graduate Diploma in HIV/AIDS and Family Life Education, University of Lucknow (First Division, 2011)
Neelam Kumari
Naturopathy and yoga practitioner, women’s wellness
Works with women on diet, yoga and everyday wellness routines. Holds the diploma below; she is not an MBBS or MD physician.
Verified credentials
- Diploma in Naturopathy and Yogic Science (D.N.Y.S.), Akhil Bharatiya Prakritik Chikitsa Parishad, 2009-2011 including a six-month internship
IVF in Lucknow: frequently asked questions
Direct answers to common questions about how IVF works, cost, success rates, checking a clinic and preparing for treatment. Figures carry their source, country and year.
IVF basics: process, IUI, ICSI, risks and age limit
Test tube baby kya hota hai aur IVF kaise hota hai? (What is IVF and how does it work?)
How long does one IVF cycle take?
IUI aur IVF mein kya antar hai? (What is the difference between IUI and IVF?)
Is ICSI better than normal IVF?
Is IVF painful, and is anaesthesia used?
What is the age limit for IVF in India?
Is IVF safe? What are the risks?
IVF cost and insurance in India
IVF ka kharcha kitna hota hai? How much does IVF cost in India?
How much does IVF cost in Lucknow?
Are medicines included in the IVF package price?
Kya IVF health insurance ya Ayushman card se ho jata hai? Does insurance cover IVF in India?
Is there a government IVF centre in Lucknow?
IVF success rates and age
IVF ka success rate kitna hota hai? (What is the IVF success rate?)
What is a good IVF success rate?
What is the IVF success rate by age?
How many IVF cycles does it usually take?
Choosing and checking an IVF clinic in Lucknow
Do you offer IVF at Lucknow Naturopathy?
How can I check whether an IVF clinic is registered under the ART Act?
Can I get IVF in Lucknow, or do I need to travel to another city?
What questions should I ask an IVF doctor before starting?
Should I get a second opinion before starting IVF?
Preparing for IVF: diet, yoga, supplements and lifestyle
How should I prepare for IVF?
IVF se pehle kya khana chahiye? What should I eat before IVF?
Kya IVF ke dauran yoga kar sakte hain? Can I do yoga during IVF?
Does yoga improve IVF success?
Can naturopathy, Ayurveda or acupuncture increase IVF success?
Which supplements should I take for IVF?
How can men prepare for IVF?
Stress, work and what to do after an unsuccessful cycle
Can stress cause IVF to fail?
Agar IVF cycle sahi na ho to aage kya karein? (What next if an IVF cycle does not work?)
Can I travel or work during an IVF cycle?
References and sources
Every statistic and legal statement above is tied to a numbered source. Figures are labelled with their country and year because UK, US, European and Indian data are not interchangeable.
- [1]Government of India. The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 (Act 42 of 2021). Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 1, No. 59 (PRS Legislative Research copy of the Gazette). 2021. Source Government of India - official (Act)
- [2]Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Rules, 2022, G.S.R. 419(E), 7 June 2022. National ART & Surrogacy Portal. 2022. Source Government of India - official (Rules)
- [3]HFEA. In vitro fertilisation (IVF). Read 2026. Source Regulator guidance
- [4]Miracles Health. IVF total cost in India (fertility-clinic group blog post, 13 June 2026). Published price ranges, not audited fees. Source Provider-published price page (low evidence)
- [5]Birla Fertility & IVF. Prices and packages (provider price page, undated, read 2026). Published package prices, not audited fees. Source Provider-published price page (low evidence)
- [6]Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). Fertility treatment 2024: trends and figures. Published 16 June 2026 (2024 birth outcomes preliminary). Source Regulator data
- [7]National Health Service (England). IVF (in vitro fertilisation): what happens, risks and eligibility. Read 12 October 2026. Source National health service guidance (UK)
- [8]ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (NIRRCH), Mumbai, for Health Technology Assessment in India (Department of Health Research, MoHFW). Estimating the cost of diagnosis of infertility and its management including in vitro fertilization among infertile couples. Policy Brief. January 2025. Source Government of India - official (health technology assessment brief)
- [9]Kirca N, Pasinlioglu T. The effect of yoga on stress level in infertile women. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care 2019;55:319-327. Source RCT (stress outcome; pregnancy not measured)
- [10]Dube L, Bright K, Hayden KA, et al. Efficacy of psychological interventions for mental health and pregnancy rates among individuals with infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Human Reproduction Update 2023;29:71-94. Source Systematic review and meta-analysis
- [11]ESHRE Add-ons Working Group. Good practice recommendations on add-ons in reproductive medicine. Human Reproduction 2023;38(11):2062-2104. doi:10.1093/humrep/dead184. Source Guideline (ESHRE good practice)
- [12]National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Fertility problems: assessment and treatment (NG257). Published 31 March 2026; replaces CG156. Source Guideline (NICE, UK)
- [13]ESHRE Guideline Group. ESHRE guideline: ovarian stimulation for IVF/ICSI, update 2025. Human Reproduction 2026;41:498-514. doi:10.1093/humrep/deag018. Source Guideline (ESHRE)
- [14]HFEA. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Read 2026. Source Regulator guidance
- [15]ESHRE Guideline Group. ESHRE guideline: number of embryos to transfer during IVF/ICSI. Human Reproduction 2024;39(4):647. doi:10.1093/humrep/deae010. Source Guideline (ESHRE)
- [16]HFEA. Intrauterine insemination (IUI). Read 2026. Source Regulator guidance
- [17]World Health Organization. Guideline for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infertility. 28 November 2025. Source Guideline (WHO)
- [18]ASRM Practice Committee. Definition of infertility: a committee opinion. American Society for Reproductive Medicine. 2023. Source Guideline (ASRM committee opinion)
- [19]World Health Organization. Infertility (fact sheet), updated 28 November 2025. Source WHO fact sheet
- [20]Agiwal V, Chaudhuri S, et al. Prevalence and factors associated with primary and secondary infertility among currently married women in India: a secondary analysis of NFHS-5 data. Journal of Reproduction & Infertility 2026;27(1). doi:10.18502/jri.v27i1.22118. Source Survey analysis (India)
- [21]Teede HJ, Tay CT, Laven J, et al. Recommendations from the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Human Reproduction 2023;38(9):1655-1679. Source Guideline (international PCOS guideline)
- [22]National ART and Surrogacy Board, Government of India. The Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulations, 2023, G.S.R. 269(E), 5 April 2023 (gazette copy). 2023. Source Government of India - official (Regulations; gazette copy hosted on a court website)
- [23]HFEA. Risks of fertility treatment. Read 12 October 2026. Source Regulator guidance
- [24]Government of India. The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 (Act 47 of 2021) (PRS Legislative Research copy). 2021. Source Government of India - official (Act)
- [25]Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2026, G.S.R. 491(E), 17 June 2026 (the most recent of several amendments since 2022). National ART & Surrogacy Portal. 2026. Source Government of India - official (Rules amendment)
- [26]Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Notice U.11019/30/2026-HR: Comprehensive review of the ART (Regulation) Act, 2021 and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021. 11 March 2026. Source Government of India - official (notice)
- [27]Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. National ART & Surrogacy Registry: list of registered ART clinics and banks (public record; counters and list read on 12 October 2026). 2026. Source Regulator data
- [28]National Medical Commission, Government of India. Indian Medical Register (public search by name, registration number or State Medical Council). Read 2026. Source Government of India - official register
- [29]Government of Uttar Pradesh, Medical Section-9. Notification No. 239/five-9-2023, Lucknow, 6 March 2023: appointment of the Appropriate Authority in each district under the ART and Surrogacy Acts. Published on the National ART & Surrogacy Portal. 2023. Source Government of Uttar Pradesh - official (notification)
- [30]HFEA. Choosing a fertility clinic: how to read success-rate measures, donor-egg and PGT-A case mix. Read 2026. Source Regulator guidance
- [31]Advertising Standards Council of India. The Code for Self-Regulation of Advertising Content in India and Guidelines (including the Awards/Rankings guideline of 21 April 2022 and addenda to 6 March 2025). 2025. Source Self-regulatory advertising code
- [32]HexaHealth. IVF cost in Lucknow (aggregator estimate built from patient, visitor and hospital-partner input; last updated 14 December 2023). Source Aggregator estimate (low evidence)
- [33]HFEA. Treatment add-ons: traffic-light ratings and the statement on complementary therapies. Read 12 October 2026. Source Regulator guidance
- [34]IIT Kanpur Health Centre. Permanent exclusions, Annexure D, reproducing the IRDAI standard exclusion codes Excl13 (nature cure clinics) and Excl17 (sterility and infertility, including IVF). File dated 12 June 2026. Source Insurer annexure reproducing IRDAI standard exclusions (secondary source)
- [35]International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019-21: District Fact Sheet, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. September 2021. Source Government of India - official survey
- [36]IIPS and ICF. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019-21: Uttar Pradesh (state report). September 2021. Source Government of India - official survey
- [37]Zegers-Hochschild F, et al. (ICMART, WHO and partner organisations). The International Glossary on Infertility and Fertility Care, 2025. Human Reproduction 2026;41(6):892-909. Source International glossary (consensus definitions)
- [38]Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), Clinic Outcome Reporting System. Final National Summary Report, reporting year 2023. Source Registry data (United States)
- [39]HFEA. Fertility treatment 2022: preliminary trends and figures (age-specific birth rates per embryo transferred; birth data preliminary). Source Regulator data
- [40]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US). 2021 Assisted Reproductive Technology Fertility Clinic and National Summary Report. 2023. Source Registry data (United States)
- [41]Gunasheela D, Ashwini M, Appaneravanda LC, Nayak H. Single-centre IVF/ICSI cohort (1,989 women, Gunasheela Surgical and Maternity Hospital, Bengaluru, 2015-2019): cumulative live birth rate by age. Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences 2022;15(3):284-292. doi:10.4103/jhrs.jhrs_123_22. Source Cohort study (single centre, India)
- [42]Misell LM, Holochwost D, Boban D, et al. A stable isotope-mass spectrometric method for measuring human spermatogenesis kinetics in vivo. Journal of Urology 2006;175:242-246. Source Physiology study (11 men)
- [43]Michalopoulou M, Jebb SA, Hobson A, et al. The effect of weight loss before in vitro fertilization on reproductive outcomes in women with obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of Internal Medicine 2025;178:1298-1313. Source Systematic review and meta-analysis
- [44]Waylen AL, Metwally M, Jones GL, et al. Effects of cigarette smoking upon clinical outcomes of assisted reproduction: a meta-analysis. Human Reproduction Update 2009;15:31-44. Source Systematic review and meta-analysis
- [45]Alqarni R, Almajed E, Alahmari M, et al. Impact of smokeless tobacco on semen quality: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Andrology 2026 (online ahead of print). Source Systematic review and meta-analysis
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