Accepting the unacceptable fact of your being infertile is not an easy rope to hoe for couples or individuals who are trying hard to complete their families. The fertility treatments indeed come as a ray of hope for these people, but one cannot deny that Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) procedures are stressful especially if it leads to IVF failure.
Despite the best efforts of medical professionals, IVF treatments can sometimes fail, leaving couples and individuals feeling devastated and unsure of their next steps. IVF failure is a reality that many couples must face, and it can be a difficult and emotional journey.
In this blog, we aim to provide comprehensive information on IVF failure, including why it happens, its impact, and how to cope with the disappointment.
We aim to empower couples and individuals who have experienced IVF failure by providing them with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their future.
Understanding the Statistics of Failed IVF
Owing to the modern technologies, cutting-edge equipment, fertility doctors’ expertise, and state-of-the-art infrastructure at the best IVF clinics, the IVF success rates are high for most couples.
But did you know that IVF treatment fails too? Hard to agree, but have to! Let us have a look at the statistics for IVF cycle failure.
- IVF failure rates vary globally and are influenced by several factors, such as the patient’s age, medical history, and the clinic’s success rates.
- Women over the age of 35 are more likely to experience IVF failure, with success rates decreasing as a woman ages.
- Approximately 50% of successfully fertilized embryos do not implant into the uterine wall, leading to a failed cycle.
- Chromosomal abnormalities contribute to 60-70% of IVF failures, with abnormal numbers or structures of chromosomes in the embryo being a factor.
IVF Failure Reasons
The anger and frustration after experiencing IVF failure are natural. But you or your partner should not be blamed for a failed IVF cycle.
There are countless causes of IVF failure. Your IVF doctor would be the best person to educate you about the probable reasons for IVF failure.
- Quality of the embryos
For successful implantation and healthy pregnancy, high-quality embryos play a crucial role. These are important, especially for the blastocyst stage during an IVF cycle. Good-quality embryos containing 6-10 cells have higher chances of developing into viable blastocysts. Also, embryos containing chromosomal abnormalities may fail to implant, thereby impacting the IVF success. Genetic health testing of embryos is essential to prevent IVF cycle failure. The maternal uterus has nothing to do with the IVF failure as it is something related to the flawed embryos.
- Poor ovarian response
IVF cycle failure also occurs when a woman’s ovaries and body fail to respond well to the fertility medications used for In Vitro Fertilization treatment. The poor ovarian response is responsible for IVF failure as it affects oocyte production and decreases the possible chances of conception.
- Lifestyle factors
Your lifestyle habits and choices play a vital role in determining whether you are the right candidate for IVF or not. A healthy lifestyle comprising a nutritious fertility diet can increase your chances of implantation and successful pregnancy. A male or female partner who is indulged heavily in regular consumption of alcohol or has smoking habits is an elevated risk of IVF cycle failure. Learn more: How Smoking Affects Male and Female Fertility?
- Sperm quality
Sperm plays a crucial role in fertilization and the subsequent development of the embryo. Poor sperm count, motility, and morphology can affect fertilization and decrease the chances of a successful pregnancy through IVF.
- Age
Advancing female partner age can decrease the chances of success with IVF as a woman’s reproductive potential declines with age. Women over 35 may have fewer viable eggs, resulting in fewer embryos for transfer and a lower chance of pregnancy.
Also Read: A Comprehensive Guidebook on The Best Pregnancy Age
- Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and thyroid disorders can cause infertility and impact the success of IVF.
- Treatment Protocols
IVF is a complex procedure that involves several steps, each of which must be performed correctly for a successful outcome. Incorrect dosage of medications, improper timing of procedures, and other protocol errors can lead to unsuccessful IVF cycles.
It’s essential to work with a qualified fertility specialist and fertility clinic such as Crysta IVF to ensure that the correct protocols are followed to increase the chances of success.
IVF failure symptoms
While pregnancy-related symptoms are recognized by the presence of specific changes that take place in your body, including nausea and tender breasts, IVF failure symptoms are recognized when there’s an absence of particular symptoms like vaginal discharge, fatigue, abdominal cramps, and pain. Some of the prevalent symptoms of successful implantation after IVF are:
- Spotting or light bleeding
- Bloating
- Mood swings
- Notable changes in basal body temperature
- Sore breasts
- Migraine like headaches
In most failed IVF cases, women with failed implantation and IVF cycle failure have experienced the absence of these symptoms.
Coping with IVF failure
Giving up and being stressed about your loss is not how you cope up with IVF failure. Getting back to normalcy as soon as possible is a must to take your journey to parenthood to the next level. Take your time and understand what’s going on in your body. You never know your next IVF cycle could be a successful one. Giving yourself another try, thinking positive, and making specific changes in your lifestyle can help you combat a failed IVF cycle’s negativity.
IVF failure, what next?
Based on your medical history and the pertinent reasons for IVF failure, the fertility specialist may consider changing the salt or dosage of fertility medications used in your previous cycle. In cases where there’s some issue related to the quality of eggs or embryos, the fertility specialist prescribes preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) to check for any chromosomal abnormality in the eggs or embryos. With the help of PGS testing, it is easier to pick only the viable embryos for implantation. In the cases where eggs and embryos are healthy, successful implantation may occur in the next IVF cycle.
Consult a Fertility Expert at Crysta IVF
If you have recently suffered a failed IVF, we can help you in your next cycle. At Crysta IVF, we have a dedicated team of highly-experienced IVF doctors who can guide you on how you can improve your chances of implantation followed by a healthy pregnancy. For more assistance, you can book an appointment with Crysta IVF centre and get instant help.
Updated on 14-02-2023
