IVF is primarily offered to couples or individuals facing medical conditions that prevent natural conception. It is indicated in cases of:
- Bilateral tubal damage, such as from past pelvic infections, endometriosis, or ectopic pregnancy, where surgery or interventional radiology cannot restore tubal function.
- Endometriosis, particularly in severe cases where pelvic adhesions and chronic inflammation interfere with conception.
- Unexplained infertility, either as a first-line treatment or after failed intrauterine insemination (IUI). In addition to being a treatment, IVF can also serve as a diagnostic tool by identifying fertilization issues in the laboratory.
- Severe male infertility, especially in cases of oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (low sperm count, poor motility, and abnormal morphology). If a sperm motility test (migration survival test) shows fewer than 1 million motile sperm, IVF may be considered. If fewer than 500,000 motile sperm are present, ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) is recommended.
- Genetic disorders, where preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is necessary to screen embryos for hereditary conditions, even in women who have conceived naturally before
