IVF and fertility resource library
The science behind assisted reproduction, explained for patients. Each article names its topic, review date, and what to ask a clinician.
2024-07-17 · 3 min read
Donor vs. own eggs in IVF: what new research shows
A 2024 study found euploid embryos from donor and patients' own eggs had similar live birth rates. Here is what that means, and does not mean, for IVF.
2024-07-17 · 3 min read
Why fertility treatment matters in modern healthcare
Why IVF remains hard to access in the US: typical costs, uneven state insurance mandates, gaps in Medicaid coverage, and the proposed Right to IVF Act.
2024-05-02 · 1 min read
How many US babies are born through IVF and ART?
How the share of US babies born through assisted reproductive technology varies by state, why the Northeast leads, and where to find current state data.
2023-06-12 · 2 min read
CRISPR and infertility: what the research can and cannot do
How researchers use CRISPR gene editing to study the genetics of infertility, why embryo editing is not an available treatment, and the ethics debate.
2023-04-20 · 4 min read
Questions to ask at your fertility clinic appointment
Practical questions to bring to your first fertility clinic visit, covering tests, success rates, add-ons, costs, coverage, and emotional support.
2023-04-20 · 2 min read
A primer on ovulation induction
A primer on ovulation induction: common causes of irregular ovulation, how clomiphene and letrozole work, key risks, and what patents on new methods mean.
2023-03-29 · 2 min read
Mosaic embryos explained: what mosaicism means for embryo selection
What mosaicism in an embryo's trophectoderm means, why a small biopsy may not reflect the whole embryo, and what to ask your clinic about mosaic results.
2023-03-28 · 2 min read
Time-lapse embryo imaging in IVF: what the evidence says
How time-lapse imaging tracks embryo development inside the incubator, how labs use the data, and what the evidence says about its effect on birth rates.
2023-03-16 · 2 min read
Ten questions to ask at your first fertility clinic appointment
Ten questions to ask at a first fertility clinic visit, from likely causes and treatment options to live birth rates, risks, full costs, and add-ons.
2023-03-15 · 1 min read
5 evidence-based ways to support fertility treatment
Five evidence-based ways to get more from fertility treatment: a full evaluation, a tailored plan, treating conditions, lifestyle, and caution with add-ons.
2023-03-14 · 2 min read
How IVF lab conditions can affect outcomes
Why IVF lab culture conditions such as oxygen, temperature, and air quality matter for embryos, how labs control them, and other causes of failed cycles.
2023-03-13 · 4 min read
Day 3 vs. day 5 vs. day 6 embryo transfer
How day 3, day 5, and day 6 embryo transfers differ, what recent research says about live birth rates, and the trade-offs of longer embryo culture.
2023-03-09 · 4 min read
Ways to reduce the cost of IVF: what the evidence supports
What drives the cost of IVF in the US, why cost per baby differs from cost per cycle, and evidence-based ways to lower what you pay.
2023-03-09 · 2 min read
Why do couples drop out of IVF treatment?
Why couples stop IVF treatment, based on research: postponement, physical and emotional burden, relationship strain, cost, and unsuccessful cycles.
2023-02-28 · 4 min read
Preparing for an IVF cycle
How to prepare for an IVF cycle: first visits, lifestyle steps, tests for both partners, what stimulation involves, and planning for costs and support.
2023-02-28 · 2 min read
Diet and egg quality: what the evidence says
What evidence says about diet and egg quality: healthy eating, folic acid, whole grains, and the Mediterranean diet, and why no diet is proven to improve eggs.
2023-02-28 · 2 min read
Environmental toxins and fertility: what we know
What is known about environmental chemicals and fertility, including endocrine disruptors, established risks like smoking, and steps to reduce exposure.
2023-02-28 · 2 min read
Do supplements improve egg quality? What the evidence says
What the evidence says about supplements for egg quality, including CoQ10, melatonin, and antioxidants, and why folic acid is the only proven basic.
2023-02-28 · 2 min read
Egg quality: what affects it and what you can do
What egg quality means, why chromosome errors increase with age and cause miscarriage, and what is and is not proven to help egg quality.
2023-02-22 · 1 min read
Precision IVF, at-home IVF, and low-cost IVF: where the field is heading
How electronic witnessing, automated storage, at-home monitoring, and AI might make IVF more precise and affordable, and why evidence still matters.
2023-02-22 · 2 min read
Embryo culture conditions: why the IVF lab matters
What makes a good IVF lab culture system: low oxygen, clean air, stable conditions, blastocyst culture, vitrification, and tracking outcomes per embryo.
2023-02-05 · 4 min read
Repeated IVF failure: possible causes and next steps
Why IVF transfers can fail more than once, how experts define repeated implantation failure, and which tests and treatments have real evidence.
2023-02-01 · 3 min read
Behind the scenes of an IVF laboratory
A walk through an IVF lab: egg collection, electronic witnessing, IVF or ICSI, embryo culture, genetic testing, freezing, and the evidence on add-ons.