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Fertility journal · reviewed by a doctor
Telling Family About IVF: 12 Conversations
You do not have to tell anyone about IVF; it is a medical decision for you, your partner and your doctor. If you do tell family, decide together first, say it plainly and say what you want from them. At Jananam Fertility Centre, Chennai, we never discuss a patient with relatives the patient has not authorised.
Key takeaways
- You do not have to tell anyone about IVF; one trusted person who knows is usually enough.
- Decide with your partner first what you will say, to whom, and what you will not discuss.
- About half of fertility problems involve a male factor, so 'we are both being treated' is usually the accurate answer.
- Jananam does not discuss your treatment with relatives unless you have authorised it.
When relatives push remedies, temples or another clinic
Most of this comes from love and worry, not judgement. You can thank them without promising anything: "Thank you, we are following our doctor's plan." If a remedy is a tablet, powder or oil you would swallow or apply, show it to us before you use it, because some interfere with treatment. If they suggest another clinic, that is your choice to make, and a second opinion is a reasonable thing to ask for.
If you already have a child
People often assume a second baby will come easily, and say so. You do not owe anyone an explanation of why it has not. With your child, keep it simple and true for their age: "We are seeing a doctor so we can try to have another baby." Children cope better with a short honest answer than with a secret they can sense.
When to call us
- You want treatment kept private and need appointments arranged around work.
- Family pressure is affecting your health or your marriage and you would like to see a counsellor. [CONFIRM: counsellor]
- A relative has contacted the clinic about you and you want to know what we will and will not say.
- If you feel low most days or have thoughts of harming yourself, call Tele-MANAS on 14416 (free, 24 hours). In an emergency, call 108 or go to the nearest emergency department, then call us on +91 89399 94244.
IVF Failed? What to Check Before the Next Cycle
After a failed IVF cycle, find out why before deciding what next: how the ovaries responded, how many eggs were mature, how the embryos grew and how the transfer was prepared.
When to Stop IVF: The Honest Conversation
There is no fixed number of cycles after which IVF must stop.
Want to keep it between the two of you? We can do that.
Message us from your own phone, whenever it suits you. A real person from our team replies on WhatsApp during clinic hours (Mon to Sat, 9am to 5pm. Sunday closed.).
Sex selection is prohibited in India under the PCPNDT Act, 1994 and the ART Act, 2021.