This archive report was first published on 12 December 2019.
December 12, 2019, marks 41 years since the first successful birth through in vitro fertilization (IVF). Despite this milestone, the IVF industry remains largely under-regulated, with clinics eager to find new ways to cash in on a growing global market projected to be worth $40 billion by 2024.
One area of concern is the use of add-ons, such as intralipids, an emulsion of soybean oil, egg phospholipids, and glycerin administered intravenously. This treatment is priced around $400 per infusion and is often presented to patients in a way that is difficult to understand. A meta-analysis published last year found that intralipids and other forms of immunotherapy should not be used in routine clinical practice.
Such procedures are often presented to patients in the form of a stack of papers, written in legalese or medical jargon. Resourceful patients might take to the internet to learn more, where searches might deliver densely written scientific articles, and ads might direct them to companies or clinics eager to promote their own brands of add-ons.
The lack of regulation in the IVF industry dates back to before the procedure first became commercially available. Since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, the government has done its best to avoid funding anything associated with embryo research, including IVF. As a result, it's a field that has been shaped by commercial considerations, with early practitioners lobbying for self-policing.
According to a 2016 BBC investigation, many unsubstantiated claims are being made about common add-on procedures sold in Britain. Australian media have also done similar reporting, highlighting the need for greater transparency in the IVF industry.
