What to Do If IVF Fails? IVF failure occurs if the in vitro-fertilised embryo cannot implant after embryo transfer. It’s natural for couples who go through IVF failure to feel overburdened and discouraged. However, knowing why does IVF fail and what to do if IVF fails can help you make future decisions.
Why Does IVF Fail?
Below are a few reasons why does IVF fail:
Age:
A woman’s age is one factor that determines the chances of a successful IVF. With age, there’s a reduction in the quality and quantity of eggs. As women grow older, poor egg quality may lead to IVF failure.Embryo quality:
The failure of embryo implantation in the uterus is the main reason for IVF failure. Chromosomal abnormalities may produce weak embryos and lead to the loss of pregnancy. The patient should undergo PGS testing of an embryo before IVF to improve the chances of successful embryo implantation.
Quality of sperm:
Sperm quality plays a major role in fertilising the egg. The sperm must be healthy, motile, and sufficient in quantity.
Ovarian response:
A poor ovarian response can decrease the chances of successful fertilisation and implantation. If there’s development of fewer than 4 mature follicles upon stimulation via medications, it’s called a poor ovarian response. This can make achieving a pregnancy with IVF difficult and may require more aggressive stimulation protocols or other techniques.
Uterine factors:
The implantation fails if the uterus fails to nourish the embryo for sustained growth adequately. IVF failure also occurs when the uterus does not offer an environment conducive to implanting the embryo.
Other factors:
Various other factors can cause the failure of IVF, including lifestyle changes such as obesity, being underweight, nutritional problems, stress, smoking, and alcoholism. Smoking can affect egg quantity and decrease sperm count and rate.
What steps should be taken in case of IVF failure?
Here are some things you can do if the IVF treatment fails:
Discuss the result and options with a fertility specialist:
The patient should discuss the result of her IVF failure with a fertility specialist or reproductive endocrinologist. The doctor will provide reasons for the failure of IVF and offer the best advice and guidance.
Take a short IVF break:
IVF failure can be tough for any couple. The couple can take a break from fertility treatments and talk to their family, friends, and relatives to overcome the challenges in treatment. This break will provide an opportunity to focus on self-care and well-being.
Freezing the embryos or eggs from the first IVF treatment:
It’ll be easier for a woman to achieve complete hormonal balance if embryologists preserve the viable eggs during the first IVF treatment.
Be ready for alternative options:
After the IVF treatment fails, the patient must be ready for other options, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), or donor egg or sperm options.
There is another option for IVF failure, gestational surrogacy. Gestational surrogacy is the method of embryonic development in a surrogate mother’s uterus using the intended mother’s eggs and the intended father’s sperm.
Conclusion
IVF treatment failure doesn’t mean that you cannot achieve pregnancy now. IVF treatment can be repeated to achieve a successful outcome. The ambition of having children can also come true thanks to several programmes, including egg donation, gestational surrogacy, and modern reproductive technologies. We hope now you have a better understanding of why does IVF fail and what to do if IVF fails.
