Medically reviewed by Dr. Arnab Kundu, MBBS, DGO, DNB (OBY-GYN), Infertility Specialist and IVF Expert at Renew Healthcare.
In Brief
An honest IVF clinic explains your diagnosis, provides a written treatment plan, shares its own success figures and never promises a baby. Be cautious of guaranteed success claims, pressure to pay for a package upfront, unexplained treatment add-ons and refusal to share records. Sex selection is illegal in India. Review these 12 red flags before committing to treatment.
You Do Not Need to Be an Expert to Spot a Sales Pitch
Choosing an IVF clinic can be emotionally and financially challenging. When you are hoping to become a parent, it can be difficult to distinguish a clear medical explanation from a sales pitch.
You deserve to understand your diagnosis, the treatment being recommended, its possible benefits and risks, and the costs involved. A trustworthy clinic should give you time to consider your options and ask questions.
If you are preparing for your first appointment, you can also read what to expect during your first visit to an IVF clinic in Kolkata.
Here are 12 warning signs to watch for and what an honest clinic should do instead.
The 12 Red Flags of an Unethical IVF Clinic
1. Guaranteed IVF Success
No clinic can guarantee that IVF will result in a baby. Your chances depend on several factors, including your age, diagnosis, the number of eggs and embryos obtained, and previous treatment cycles.
A promise of guaranteed success, including a baby in one attempt, is a warning sign.
What an honest clinic does: It gives you an individual estimate or a range, explains the information behind that estimate, and acknowledges what remains uncertain.
2. Pressure to Pay for a Full Package Immediately
Be cautious if you are pressured to make a decision on the spot or pay for several IVF cycles before you have had time to understand the treatment plan.
You should not feel that you must make a major medical and financial decision immediately.
What an honest clinic does: It provides an itemised price list, explains what is included, clarifies which payments are refundable and which are not, and gives you time to consider the proposal.
3. Unexplained IVF Add-ons
Treatment add-ons are additional procedures, tests or technologies offered alongside standard IVF. An add-on should not automatically be treated as necessary for every patient.
The source document reports that, on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) treatment add-ons page reviewed on 28 September 2026, none of the listed add-ons was rated Green, and several were rated Red or Black. The document describes the evidence for many add-ons as weak.
What an honest clinic does: It explains the specific problem an add-on is intended to address, shows you the relevant evidence and rating, and tells you clearly when the evidence is limited.
Before agreeing to an additional procedure, ask why it is being recommended for you and what the alternatives are.
4. Routine Genetic Testing Sold to Everyone
Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) checks embryos for chromosome-number abnormalities. It should not be presented as automatically necessary for every IVF patient.
The source document notes that PGT-A is rated Red by the HFEA.
What an honest clinic does: It explains whether the test is recommended in your particular situation, why it may be considered, and what the test can and cannot tell you.
Ask your doctor to explain the expected benefits and limitations before you decide.
5. No Written IVF Cycle Plan
You should be able to understand the major stages of your treatment before it begins. These may include medication, monitoring appointments, egg collection, fertilisation, embryo transfer or freezing, and the pregnancy test.
If the plan is unclear, it can be difficult to understand what will happen next or what you are paying for.
What an honest clinic does: It provides a written plan with the treatment stages, expected dates where possible, and a named person you can contact with questions.
You can learn more about the five stages of IVF treatment.
6. Refusal to Share IVF Cycle Data
A clinic should be able to explain how it measures treatment outcomes. A single headline success rate may not tell you how the clinic performs for patients in your age group or how the result was calculated.
What an honest clinic does: It shares its own figures by age band, explains the definitions used, and tells you how the figures were counted.
Ask whether the quoted figure refers to a pregnancy, a live birth, or another outcome, and whether it is measured per cycle or per embryo transfer.
7. IVF Started Without a Clear Diagnosis
IVF is a significant medical and financial commitment. You should understand what your investigations have shown and why IVF is being recommended.
If treatment is proposed without explaining your test results or the problem it is expected to address, ask for clarification before proceeding.
What an honest clinic does: It records and explains your test findings in plain language, explains why IVF is the recommended next step, and discusses the alternatives that were considered.
8. Discouraging You From Getting a Second Opinion
You should be able to seek another medical opinion if you are uncertain about your diagnosis, treatment plan or costs.
A clinic that resists providing copies of your reports or treatment records raises a concern.
What an honest clinic does: It provides copies of your reports and cycle records so that another qualified specialist can review your situation.
A second opinion can be particularly useful when the diagnosis is unclear, the proposed treatment includes several add-ons, or the financial commitment is substantial.
9. Any Request to Choose a Baby's Sex
Sex selection is prohibited under Indian law, subject to the specific legal provisions and exceptions that apply to the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of sex-linked disorders.
The source document refers to the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, and Section 26 of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021.
What an honest clinic does: It refuses requests for prohibited sex selection and explains its legal and ethical obligations.
A request to choose a baby's sex should be treated as a serious warning sign. This article does not provide methods for sex determination or selection.
10. “Guaranteed” Products Sold Alongside IVF
Be cautious of supplements, herbal conception products or so-called miracle packages presented as guaranteed ways to achieve pregnancy.
A product should not be recommended simply because you are undergoing fertility treatment. You should understand what evidence supports its use and whether it is appropriate for you.
What an honest clinic does: It explains what evidence exists for a product, whether it is necessary in your situation, and how much it costs.
Ask for a clear explanation rather than relying on promises of guaranteed results.
11. Blaming You for an Unsuccessful Cycle
An unsuccessful IVF cycle can be emotionally difficult. Blaming a patient for not trying hard enough, having the wrong lifestyle or failing to think positively does not provide a useful medical explanation.
What an honest clinic does: It reviews the cycle openly, explains what happened as far as the available information allows, and discusses what it recommends next and why.
You should be able to ask questions about an unsuccessful cycle without being blamed.
12. Consent That Is Not Properly Explained
Before treatment begins, you should understand the relevant risks, alternatives and costs. The source document specifically mentions risks such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and multiple pregnancy.
Consent should be an informed decision, not simply a form you sign without understanding the treatment.
What an honest clinic does: It explains the risks and alternatives, answers your questions, provides the necessary information in writing, and does not begin the cycle until you have agreed to the treatment.
If you do not understand a procedure or its risks, ask for an explanation before signing.
IVF Add-ons: What Should You Ask?
The HFEA uses a five-colour rating system to communicate the evidence for treatment add-ons. The source document reports that, on the page reviewed on 28 September 2026, none was rated Green. It identifies PGT-A as Red and time-lapse imaging and PICSI as Black.
Time-lapse imaging may be offered by clinics, but the source document states that its benefit to live birth is not established.
These ratings should not be interpreted as a personalised recommendation for your treatment. Ask your specialist about the rating of each add-on being proposed and why it may be relevant to your situation.
You can also ask what would happen if you chose not to use the add-on.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing an IVF Clinic
Take this list to your first consultation.
What exactly is my diagnosis, and which test showed it?
What are my chances with this clinic for my age group, per embryo transfer?
Can I have a written treatment plan and a complete itemised price list?
Which add-ons do you recommend for me, and what is the HFEA rating for each?
Can I have copies of my reports and treatment records if I want a second opinion?
Can you show me the clinic's current registration document under the applicable ART regulations?
The source document recommends checking the clinic's registration document directly. Its exact legal wording and registration requirements must be verified against the official Gazette or India Code before publication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an IVF clinic guarantee a pregnancy?
No clinic can guarantee that IVF will result in a baby. The chances depend on factors including age, diagnosis, the number of eggs and embryos, and previous cycles. A trustworthy clinic explains an individual estimate or range and the limitations of that estimate. A guarantee of success is a red flag.
Are IVF add-ons worth paying for?
The evidence varies by add-on. The source document reports that several add-ons have Red or Black HFEA ratings and that none was rated Green on the page reviewed on 28 September 2026. Ask which problem each add-on is intended to address, what evidence supports it, and what the alternatives are.
Is sex selection legal in India?
The source document states that sex selection is prohibited under the PCPNDT Act, 1994, and refers to Section 26 of the ART Act, 2021. The exact statutory wording and scope of exceptions should be verified against the official legal text before publication. A clinic should not offer prohibited sex selection.
What should I do if I feel pressured to pay?
Ask for the written quote and take time to review it. A trustworthy clinic should explain the charges and give you an opportunity to ask questions. If you are told that you must pay immediately before you understand the treatment plan, pause and consider obtaining a second opinion.
Should I get a second opinion before IVF?
A second opinion can be useful when your diagnosis is unclear, your proposed plan includes several add-ons, or the cost is substantial. Request copies of your reports and treatment records so the other specialist can review the full picture.
How can I check whether an IVF clinic is registered?
Ask to see the clinic's current registration document under the applicable Assisted Reproductive Technology regulations. Review the document rather than relying only on a verbal assurance. The specific legal requirements should be checked against the official text before publication.
The Bottom Line
An honest IVF clinic explains your diagnosis, provides a written plan, shares its own success figures and does not promise a baby. Unexplained add-ons, pressure to pay upfront, refusal to share records and unclear consent are reasons to pause and ask more questions.
If you see two or more of these warning signs, or you are asked to pay before you understand the treatment plan, consider getting a second opinion.
You are entitled to understand your treatment, ask questions and obtain copies of your records.
For information about your fertility specialist, read the profile of Dr. Arnab Kundu. You can also visit the Renew Healthcare homepage.
This article is for general educational purposes and does not replace individual medical advice. Please consult a qualified specialist about your own situation.
References
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). Treatment add-ons: ratings. Page reviewed 28 September 2026. https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/treatment-add-ons/
Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, India. Verify the official short title and statutory wording before publication.
Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 (Act No. 42 of 2021), Section 26(1)–(3). Verify against the official Gazette or India Code before publication.