In-vitro fertilisation helps an egg and sperm meet in the laboratory, then places the resulting embryo in the womb. It is the most effective fertility treatment there is — but its success depends heavily on age, and it does not work every time. India offers it at registered clinics for a fraction of Western prices. Here are the real numbers, with nothing over-promised.
IVF brings egg and sperm together outside the body. Medication first stimulates the ovaries to grow several eggs; these are collected in a short procedure under sedation. In the laboratory they are mixed with sperm — or a single sperm is injected directly into each egg, a step called ICSI , used mainly for male-factor problems. Embryos are grown for a few days, and the best one is placed into the womb. Spare good embryos can be frozen for later attempts.
A cycle can end with a fresh transfer in the same month, or all embryos can be frozen and transferred in a later, calmer cycle. Neither the number of eggs collected nor a positive pregnancy test guarantees a baby — attrition happens at every stage, which is why success is measured as a live birth, and why more than one cycle is often needed.
IVF is usually considered after simpler treatments have not worked, or straight away when the cause makes them pointless — for example, blocked tubes or severe male-factor infertility. A fertility specialist assesses both partners before recommending it: age, ovarian reserve, tubal status, and a semen analysis all shape the plan.
Age is the single strongest predictor of IVF success, because it drives egg quality. These are national figures for live births using a woman's own eggs — the honest baseline to plan around.
How to read this honestly. These are population averages, not your personal odds. Clinics measure success in different ways (per cycle, per transfer, per retrieval), so headline percentages are not always comparable — always ask what the denominator is. Across several cycles the cumulative chance is higher than any single figure. And AMH blood tests measure egg quantity , not quality, so a low number is not a verdict.
One thing changes the picture entirely: donor eggs . Because success then depends on the young donor's egg rather than the recipient's age, live birth rates hold at roughly 45–55% per transfer regardless of the recipient's age. 1 Whether that is an option for you is a personal decision your consultant will discuss openly.
IVF clinics in India are regulated under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 , which requires clinics to be registered and to meet defined standards of practice and record-keeping. 4 Choosing a registered clinic is the single most important safeguard, and something we confirm for every centre in our network.
Surrogacy is governed separately, under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, which permits only altruistic surrogacy and sets strict eligibility rules that limit access for many overseas patients. IVF itself and surrogacy are not the same thing. Because eligibility and documentation rules for cross-border patients can change and vary by situation, we confirm your specific position in writing before anything is booked.
Regulatory and eligibility details for international, donor and surrogacy cases are confirmed with the treating clinic for the individual case before any booking or travel decision.
IVF is generally safe, but it is medical treatment with real risks. These are what a consultant discusses before you start.
For international patients, the testing and the timing of the cycle are the parts to plan for.
Laboratory standards, current ART registration and the services available for an individual case are confirmed directly with a clinic before it is recommended. Clinic-level success percentages are not presented without an audited source.
Bengaluru
Mumbai
Gurgaon
Director
CK Birla Hospital, Gurgaon
Associate Director
Max Super Specialty Hospital Gurgaon
Consultant
They depend most on age. Using your own eggs, national live-birth rates fall from around 43% under 35 to under 3% over 42 per attempt. 1 Your own reports let a consultant give a figure closer to your situation — and be honest if the odds are low.
Often more than one. Because each cycle has a limited chance, the cumulative odds build over two or three attempts — which is why planning for that from the start helps.
Be cautious. Headline numbers can be inflated by how they are measured or by treating only easier cases. Ask for age-specific rates, the denominator used, and the cycle volume behind them.
Yes — clinics operate under the ART (Regulation) Act, 2021 and must be registered. 4 We work only with registered clinics and confirm eligibility rules for international patients in writing first.
Where age has lowered the chance with your own eggs, donor eggs keep live-birth rates around 45–55% per transfer. 1 It is a personal decision, discussed openly and within the law.
Every clinical claim on this page traces to one of these. Success figures are national averages, not clinic-specific or individual predictions.
This page is written for patients and their families and is not medical advice. Health Route is a facilitator, not a healthcare provider. Whether IVF is right for you, your realistic chance of success, and any use of donor gametes are decisions for a treating fertility consultant and are governed by Indian law.
Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) — national ART outcomes.
Live birth per intended egg retrieval, own eggs: 42.8% (<35), 30.5% (35–37), 19.4% (38–40), 9.4% (41–42), 2.8% (>42). Donor-egg cycles ~45–55% per transfer regardless of recipient age.
CDC Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Success Rates.
National data showing the same steep decline in live birth with maternal age; the CDC notes aggregate rates may not reflect an individual's outcome.
Cumulative live birth rates in autologous IVF by age.
PMC10591412 and SART CORS analyses. Cumulative chances across cycles exceed any single-cycle figure; counselling on donor eggs is advised at older ages.
Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 (India).
Govern registration and practice standards for ART clinics, and separately regulate altruistic surrogacy and eligibility. Verify current provisions and cross-border eligibility before travel.
A fertility consultant reads them and writes back after the treating team completes its review with an honest estimate of your chances, the protocol they would suggest, and an itemised price — including if they think the odds are low. No charge, and no obligation to travel.