Nobody walks into an IVF consultation fully prepared. There’s too much to process, too many new terms, and usually a lot of nerves in the room too. But couples who go in with a clear set of questions tend to come out with far less confusion later, especially around cost and timelines. Here are the ten questions worth writing down before your first appointment.
1. What is actually causing our infertility?
Sounds obvious, but plenty of couples start treatment without a clear answer to this. Push your doctor to explain the exact cause in plain terms, whether it's low ovarian reserve, blocked tubes, low sperm count, PCOS, or infertility without an obvious label yet. Once you understand the "why," the treatment plan stops feeling random.
2. Which treatment actually suits our case: IUI, IVF, ICSI, or IMSI?
IVF isn't always the right first step. Some couples do fine with IUI, while severe male-factor infertility usually needs ICSI or IMSI instead. A doctor who's paying attention builds the plan around your diagnosis, age, and history, not a template they hand everyone.
3. What does the embryology lab actually offer?
This gets overlooked far too often. The lab is where fertilization happens and embryos grow before transfer, so its quality matters as much as the doctor's skill. Ask what incubators they use, whether time-lapse monitoring is part of the process, and if AI-assisted embryo selection helps pick the strongest embryo.
4. What is a realistic success rate for someone in our exact situation?
Websites love a big success percentage on the homepage. That number is an average, not a prediction about you. Ask what your personal chances look like based on your age, ovarian reserve, and embryo quality. Harder conversation, but a far more honest one.
5. What will this actually cost, all in?
Get a written cost breakdown before anything starts, covering medication, monitoring, retrieval, lab work, and transfer. This is the biggest source of mid-cycle stress for most couples, and it's almost always avoidable if you ask for the full number upfront.
6. Is there an EMI option or a payment plan?
Money shouldn't decide whether you wait another year. Ask if the clinic offers interest-free EMI or any structured payment option, so you're not choosing between waiting and going into debt.
7. Realistically, how many cycles should we plan for?
Many couples conceive on the first or second try, but cumulative success tends to improve with each attempt. Ask for an honest estimate rather than assuming one cycle settles everything, so you can plan for it financially and emotionally.
8. What should we change about our lifestyle before we even begin?
Weight, diet, smoking, alcohol, stress, all of it affects how your body responds to hormonal stimulation. Ask for a specific checklist, ideally starting three months before the first injection. Preparation time genuinely changes outcomes here.
9. And if the first cycle doesn't work, what then?
A clinic worth trusting talks you through this before you start, not after a failed cycle leaves you scrambling. Ask what happens next, whether that's reviewing the protocol, further embryo testing, or a frozen embryo transfer. Knowing the next step in advance makes a setback feel less like a dead end.
10. How experienced is this clinic, really?
Ask how long they've been running, how many cycles their team handles a year, and what actual patients say. A track record tells you more than any brochure will.
Why Couples Choose Candor IVF Center for These Answers
Candor IVF Center has been around since 2009, which works out to 17 years of experience across 14+ centers in Gujarat, including four right here in Surat. Every protocol is built around the individual case, and the embryology lab runs on time-lapse incubators with AI-assisted embryo selection, so decisions at every transfer are backed by more than a quick look under a microscope. Pricing is shared in writing before treatment begins, No Cost EMI is on the table for couples who need it, and the clinic carries a 4.9 Google rating from over 9000 families who’ve been through this process here. These ten questions aren’t hypothetical for Candor IVF Center, they’re already baked into how the clinic works.
Conclusion
IVF is medical, but it’s financial and emotional too, and none of that gets easier by avoiding hard questions early on. Walking into your first consultation with these ten in hand puts you in a much stronger position to understand your diagnosis, weigh your options, and decide what’s right for you. Candor IVF Center offers a free consultation for couples who’d rather get honest answers before committing to anything.
FAQ
Does Candor IVF Center offer a free first consultation?
Yes, a free fertility consultation is available to help couples understand their diagnosis and options before committing to treatment.
Which cities does Candor IVF Center operate in?
14+ centers across Gujarat, including four in Surat (Kapodra, Vesu, Katargam, Adajan), plus Bharuch, Vadodara, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Amreli, Veraval, Surendranagar, Morbi, Mahuva, and Gandhidham.
Does Candor IVF Center provide EMI options?
Yes, No Cost EMI is available so cost is less likely to delay starting treatment.
How is AI used in the embryology lab?
AI-assisted embryo selection works alongside time-lapse incubation to help embryologists identify the embryo with the strongest development pattern.
Is gender selection allowed during IVF at Candor IVF Center?
No. Gender selection for social reasons is illegal in India under the PCPNDT Act, and the clinic strictly follows this law.
How long has Candor IVF Center been treating patients?
Since 2009, giving it 17 years of experience in reproductive medicine across Gujarat.
What should I bring to my first consultation?
Any previous fertility test reports, ultrasound results, and a record of past treatments, so the specialist can assess your case accurately from visit one.
Dr. Jaydev Dhameliya is an IVF consultant and reproductive medicine specialist with over 17 years of clinical experience helping couples on their journey to parenthood. He holds an MBBS and DGO, and is a Fellow in Minimal Access Surgery (FMAS), a trained laparoscopic surgeon. As Founder and Director of Candor IVF, he specialises in IVF, infertility treatment, laparoscopic gynaecological surgery, and high-risk pregnancy management. Every article he authors or reviews reflects current medical evidence and his hands-on patient experience.
