Assisted Reproduction: IVF, Gender Selection, and What Really Works

When natural conception doesn’t happen, assisted reproduction, medical techniques used to help people conceive when fertility issues exist. Also known as fertility treatment, it includes methods like IVF, IUI, and egg freezing—each with different success rates, costs, and emotional tolls. This isn’t science fiction. Millions of people worldwide have used these tools to become parents, and the data behind them is clearer than ever.

IVF, a process where eggs are fertilized outside the body and then implanted into the uterus is the most common form of assisted reproduction. But it’s not a guaranteed fix. Success depends heavily on age—women under 35 have about a 40% chance per cycle, but that drops to under 10% after 40. It’s not just about the clinic. Lifestyle, hormone response, and even stress levels play a role. And then there’s gender selection, the ability to choose the sex of the embryo during IVF using genetic testing. In some countries, it’s allowed only for medical reasons, like avoiding inherited diseases. In others, it’s used for family balancing. But it’s not simple or cheap. PGD testing adds thousands to the cost and isn’t always covered by insurance.

What most people don’t talk about are the IVF side effects, physical and emotional reactions caused by fertility drugs and procedures. Bloating, mood swings, and fatigue are common. A rare but serious risk is OHSS—ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome—which can cause dangerous fluid buildup. The emotional side is just as heavy. The two-week wait after embryo transfer feels like standing on a tightrope. One failed cycle can feel like a personal failure, even though it’s often biology, not choice, at fault.

Assisted reproduction isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some people need one round. Others try five. Some use donor eggs. Others freeze embryos for later. And then there are the stories you don’t hear—like Celine Dion’s journey, where she succeeded at 42 after an earlier failure. These aren’t just medical procedures. They’re deeply personal paths shaped by science, money, culture, and hope.

Below, you’ll find real, no-fluff breakdowns of what actually happens in IVF, what the numbers say about success, how gender selection really works, and how to spot the side effects before they spiral. No marketing. No promises. Just what the data and real patients are experiencing right now.