For those of you who are planning to conceive and have been advised IVF, here's what you might to know -
IVF= Conception in a laboratory
Nature has been procreating for 3.5 billion years. Animals continue to procreate at the same rate without any help of an expert or medical practitioner.
Yet, the total fertility rate of human beings globally, has dropped from 4.45 in 1970 to 2.5 in 2014.

Since 1978 , ART- Assisted Reproductive Technologies, of which the most famous is IVF, has become a boon to those unable to conceive, or are older, or have persistent health issues.
In India alone, more than 2,500 IVF (in vitro fertilisation) Infertility Clinics have mushroomed all over the country, to aid birth. Simply put, IVF is the process where an egg is fertilised by a sperm, outside of the body. It is a process of fertilisation by extracting eggs, retrieving a sperm sample, and then manually combining an egg and sperm in a lab dish. The embryo(s) are then transferred to the uterus.
Has our body lost its capability to procreate? Has Nature's design become outmoded? Is IVF the only way ahead? Are there any risks involved?
The natural way of conception involves the union of a man and a woman only. IVF, requires the assistance of a medical team. It needs the involvement of doctors and lab assistants, who retrieve the eggs and sperm, fertilise them in the lab and then have surgeons to finally implant the fertilised eggs in a woman's body. A catheter or small tube is inserted into the uterus to transfer the embryo. The players also include egg donors, sperm donors, and the entire manpower and technology, involved in this act of creating fertilisation (insemination), unfolding in the laboratory.
To increase the chances of success, IVF involves screening procedures to get the “best” baby. Multiple eggs are desired because some eggs will not develop and fertilise after retrieval. Multiple embryos are therefore created in each IVF cycle. The embryos with “undesirable” traits are removed and only the “healthy” embryos are selected to live. These "spare embryos", are either discarded or destroyed,  at times just washed down the drain. Would-be-parents need to consider such potential ethical issues.
There is more... The IVF process requires the egg donor, sperm donor and the mother to undergo very many lab examinations, cervical culturing, pelvic examinations, blood tests, ultra sound screenings,( including trans vaginal ultrasound to examine the ovaries), along with the use of fertility medications (to stimulate egg production), pain relief drugs, hormones like HGC- known as the pregnancy hormone to induce ovulation, along with strict movement restrictions. There are cases of women undergoing upto 17 rounds of IVF, 19 procedures, 100's of painful injections, apart from many many thousands and thousands of rupees, all finally leading to either failure or surrogacy as another option. There are no guarantees. The IVF cycle may be unsuccessful, and more than 1 cycle is often the case.
Unlike naturally birthed babies, IVF babies are more likely to be born premature, with below-normal birth weight. Birth and brain defects like cerebral palsy are reported. Eczema, food allergies, night terrors, and developmental delays have also been noted. As for the mother, overstimulation of her cells during this conception process, not only leads to hormonal imbalances but also lowered immunity. In many cases, the ovaries become swollen and the severe pain from the numerous procedures and interventions persist.

Some of the known risks with IVF are:  Multiple births, due to more than one embryo being implanted.  Miscarriages. Ectopic Pregnancies. Egg Retrieval Procedure Complications (bleeding, infection,damage to bowels and bladder). Mood changes. Hot flushes. Ovarian Cancer. Stress- IVF is financially, physically and emotionally taxing and stressful. 

When a woman conceives naturally, there are many automatic, preparatory changes physically, emotionally and mentally, which sets the correct environment in the womb, for the baby. Both nourishment and immunity are seeded here, to ensure the baby grows in well rounded adaptability, capability and health. Fertility is an ancient survival instinct, a natural process of the body. The body is intelligent enough to turn it off, if it feels it cannot safely sustain a pregnancy or provide the right environment for the baby.
There are many causes for Infertility. The medical world is yet unable to resolve this. Perhaps if more energy and resources are invested in solving and relieving this fundamental issue, IVF need not be the only choice. Perhaps too, the financial costs involved can be redirected towards better self care techniques, informed nourishment, or even adoption.
Reference: The Health Awareness Center, Mumbai