Explained: Child exchange revealed in IVF clinic! How does an embryo form on a glass plate instead of the womb?

The morning of 9 January 2026 was the happiest day for Rahul and Meenu Rathore of Gurugram. After years of efforts, Meenu gave birth to twin daughters with the help of IVF. But as the girls grew up, it became clear that their appearance neither resembled Rahul nor Meenu. When he got a DNA test done, the report did not match. That means the clinic had replaced their embryo with the embryo of another couple. Let us know what is the matter and the world of IVF…

What did the court say and what next?

The Rathore couple approached the Delhi Court. The court directed the police to register a case and investigate. Rahul demanded that the clinic’s IVF records, embryo-related documents, lab data, electronic data and CCTV footage be kept safe for investigation. But till now the police has not taken any concrete action. Rahul’s question was, ‘Where are our own children? We went there for our children. Meenu said, ‘Just as I am searching for my child, similarly the mother whose child is with me must also be longing for her child. I can’t even feed milk to these girls.

Meanwhile, Meenu revealed that she is getting calls from many couples in the country and abroad, who have been similarly cheated by IVF clinics. Earlier, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) had imposed a fine of Rs 1.5 crore on a Delhi clinic.

After all, what is IVF and how is it done?

The full name of IVF is ‘In-Vitro Fertilization.’ Vitro means ‘of glass’, that is, this process does not happen inside the body, but in a glass petri dish (a kind of lab plate). For this, eggs are removed from the woman’s ovaries. Then in the lab these eggs are mixed with the man’s sperm. The embryo formed after this union is nurtured in the lab for a few days and then transferred into the woman’s uterus. The entire process takes about 2 to 3 weeks.

Why do IVF?

According to Indira IVF, when a couple is unable to have a child despite trying for a year, it is called infertility. IVF is the most effective treatment for this infertility. It is used when:

• The woman’s fallopian tube (which carries the egg to the uterus) may be blocked or damaged.
• There is problem in ovulation (process of releasing eggs).
• Have endometriosis (growth of tissue outside the uterus).
• Decrease in sperm count or quality in men.
• The woman’s age should be more than 40.
  To prevent any genetic disease.

What is the inside picture of IVF center?

According to the report of Indian Express, there are many layers of security in IVF lab. But the case of Gurugram shows how huge the damage can be if these safety measures are ignored:

• Strict rules of the lab: IVF lab is called the heart of the fertility centre. Eggs, sperm and embryos are handled here. In this lab, temperature, air quality and humidity are controlled very precisely, because the embryos are very delicate in the initial stages.
• Electronic Witnessing System: This is the most important security measure. This is a technology that tracks the eggs, sperms and embryos of every patient at every stage. If there is any abnormality or mismatch at any stage, an alert is immediately generated and the embryologist examines it.
• Art Act 2021 Law: The Government of India passed the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act in 2021. The purpose of this law is to regulate ART clinics and banks, so that they can work safely and better. Under this, every ART clinic should be registered. Electronic barcoding and mandatory signatures of two independent embryologists are required before embryo transfer. The process of patient identification and sample tracking is strict.

How possible is it to exchange children in an IVF centre?

According to the Times of India report, due to modern technology and strict rules, the chances of exchanging children in a good clinic are very less. Electronic barcoding, double-verification and real-time alert systems are measures that virtually eliminate the margin for error. But the case of Gurugram proves that ‘almost impossible’ does not mean ‘completely impossible’. Such incidents can happen when clinics ignore rules, when there is negligence or when systems are breached.

How many people adopt IVF in India?

According to the report of Apollo Fertility, 1.6 crore to 2.2 crore couples in India are suffering from infertility. There are only 3-4 lakh IVF cycles every year and only 1.5-2.2% couples are able to reach IVF. This means that almost 98% of infertile couples are not able to take the help of IVF.

According to WHO, out of 3.9-16.8% couples suffering from infertility in India, 8% require expensive techniques like IVF. The success rate of IVF is between 30% to 55%. In women below 35 years of age, it can be up to 65%, while in women above 40 years of age, it falls to 5-10%.

The cost of an IVF cycle ranges from Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. If a special technique ICSI is required, then Rs 15,000-40,000 are extra. Even in government hospitals it is not less than Rs 1.1 lakh.

Which section of people in India adopts IVF?

According to IVF specialist and gynecologist Dr. Nitasha Gupta, 5 types of couples get this process done:

• High-Class Group: IVF is expensive, so only rich people can afford it. It is not easy for a couple to spend Rs 1.5-3 lakh.
• Urban and educated people: Tamil Nadu has the highest number of IVF clinics because the per capita income there is high and the level of women’s education is high.
• Middle Class: 90% of couples go into debt due to IVF expenses. 57% couples do not undergo IVF because it is very expensive.
• Couples aged 30-35 years: Most of the couples undergoing IVF are between 30-35 years of age.
• Dink couple means double income, no kids: Those who deliberately delay having children and later resort to IVF.

The IVF market in India is now worth more than Rs 10,000 crore. The annual income of Indira IVF Company alone is more than Rs 1,500 crore.

Why is the trend of IVF increasing?

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), there are 4 major reasons for the increasing trend of IVF:

• Infertility: Changing lifestyle, stress, diseases like PCOS, STDs and endometrial TB are increasing rapidly. This problem is even more serious in couples living in cities.
• Late marriage: Now people focus on education and career, hence the age for marriage and having children has increased. After 40 years it becomes difficult to conceive naturally, hence people resort to IVF.
• heightened awareness: Earlier people used to hide infertility, but now it is talked about openly. Information about IVF is easily available.
• Better Technology: The success rate of IVF has increased significantly compared to before. New technologies are coming which are making it even more effective.

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