Why Do IVF Failures Happen?
Multiple reasons can be responsible for IVF failure. Let’s check out some of them.
Age and IVF Success
IVF treatment success is age-dependent. As you age, your chances of achieving pregnancy with IVF treatment can be greatly affected. As a woman ages, the ovarian reserve decreases in both quality and quantity. This decline can affect embryo quality and implantation. Therefore, if you’re over 35, the success rate may begin to dip.
Problems With Embryo Implantation
Why does IVF fail? One common reason is embryo implantation failure. Embryo implantation difficulties are not something you can control. It may occur due to uterine polyps, a premature spike in progesterone levels, a thin endometrial lining, or an infection. To increase the odds of successful embryo implanting, the woman can undergo PGS testing during IVF. This assists your infertility experts in selecting healthy embryos for implantation for better success.
Egg-Related Problems
Poor egg quality is a major cause of IVF failure. Healthy eggs are extremely important as they provide the genetic material required for embryo development. Abnormal eggs very rarely fertilise or implant in the uterus. If they do, there are possibilities of miscarriage or genetic problems. It’s not possible to directly test eggs for quality. However, age plays an important role here. The number of abnormal eggs increases drastically with age as older eggs accumulate errors in the DNA. Some reproductive illnesses and medications can also damage eggs, like chemotherapy medication and problems like endometriosis.
Egg count or ovarian reserve is another important factor that couples must know about. It refers to the approximate number of eggs present inside the ovaries, having ovulation potential, or usable in an IVF cycle. Determining this via a test can help in making an appropriate choice regarding when to start trying, whether to go for IVF, embryo freezing, etc. Consulting a specialist to get the test results interpreted is important.
Chromosome Count and Other Chromosomal Abnormalities
The embryo’s quality suffers if the fertilised egg lacks the necessary chromosome count. Even if the embryo grows to six to eight cells by the third day in the lab, it may still have chromosomal abnormalities. These problems make it more likely for the pregnancy not to continue successfully. Due to these reasons, IVF patients are closely monitored during the beginning of the pregnancy. Constant monitoring helps spot issues and ensure a successful pregnancy.
What Are the Symptoms and Signs of Failed Implantation?
Here are some of the common and certain IVF failure symptoms that you should watch out for:
Your Period Starts
Another telltale sign that your implantation didn’t work is when you get your period. Before your period starts, you might notice signs like breast soreness and cramps, followed by menstrual flow. It’s frustrating because these signs can occur even with a seemingly good implantation.
Negative Pregnancy Test
Your negative pregnancy test is a clear clue that your IVF didn’t work this time. If your home pregnancy test comes out negative and to figure out what to do next, you should consult with your fertility doctor.
Note: The symptoms like cramps, soreness, or light bleeding after the procedure are not reliable indicators of whether your IVF was successful or not.
Conclusion
Learning that your IVF failed can be difficult, and you might be flooded with thoughts of ‘why does IVF fail?’. It’s critical to allow oneself enough time to recover mentally and physically.
While certain things are beyond your control, you may increase your odds by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, taking your medicine as directed, and getting mental support. Recall that each person’s path towards parenthood is unique, and an unsuccessful IVF round does not prevent you from becoming a parent.
With IVF, several cutting-edge procedures can improve your chances of realising your dream of having a child. Sometimes, it takes several attempts before IVF is effective, so don’t give up.
