You are currently viewing Multiple Failed IVF Cycles – Understanding Causes & Next Steps

Understanding unsuccessful IVF or what “multiple IVF failure” means is important before discussing why it happens. When we say “multiple failed IVF cycles,” we mean getting negative pregnancy test results after IVF or having a miscarriage early on. Many things can cause this, and it’s not always just by chance that this happens.

7 Major Causes Contributing to Multiple Failed IVF Cycles:

  1. Advanced maternal age is a significant factor. With age egg quality and quantity decline thereby reducing the chances of successful fertilization, embryo implantation and growth of implanted embryo into a healthy fetus.
  2. Issues with sperm quality, quantity or motility can contribute to failed fertilization or poor embryo development. Low-quality eggs or sperm can impair fertilization and embryo development, leading to unsuccessful IVF.
  3. Genetic or chromosomal abnormalities in embryos that can be due to a genetic abnormality in the sperms, eggs or one that develops during embryo formation.
  4. Conditions such as fibroids, polyps or abnormal uterus in any other way, can interfere with embryo implantation and growth.
  5. Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can affect egg quality and hormone levels, reducing IVF success rates.
  6. Underlying medical conditions such as autoimmune disorders, thyroid disorders, or diabetes can affect fertility and IVF success rates. 
  7. And above all factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, and poor diet, zero exercise can cause unsuccessful IVF.

Why IVF Fails?

Unsuccessful IVF: What Are Your Next Steps and Treatment Options?

After a failed IVF attempt, certain steps can be taken to understand and address the situation, because an unsuccessful IVF does not mean that you cannot be a parent!

1. Review the IVF Process:

Whether you have a single or multiple failed IVF cycle, your fertility doctor will look back at what happened during your last IVF cycle. They’ll see what worked and what didn’t, making changes to the plan for next time. Mainly finding out the cause of what exactly went wrong in the IVF cycle and the cause behind the failure.

2. Diagnostic Testing:

Diagnostic Testing for IVF

It is important to have tests to find out why the IVF didn’t work. These tests help identify the cause of the failed IVF cycle and any problems that might have caused the failure.

3. Trying IVF Again:

Unsuccessful IVF What’s Next? most people decide to give IVF another shot. This time, the doctor might make certain changes in the IVF cycle based on the test results from before. Mainly finding the cause behind the previous IVF cycle, if there is a genetic cause behind the failure- genetic testing can be done in the embryo before implantation (embryo transfer) or parental genetics can be evaluated and further using of donor gametes can be decided upon by the result of parental genes. Any structural deformity like fibroids, polyp or anonymous uterus can be corrected by hysteroscopy or laparoscopy.

How Many IVF Cycles Does the Average Person Typically Undergo?

IVF cycles

Unsuccessful IVF what’s next? You can go for another IVF cycle. The number of IVF cycles an individual needs varies widely. The number of IVF cycles required to achieve a successful pregnancy largely depends on the individuals and the cause of their infertility and what was done in the subsequent cycles to avoid what happened in the previous IVF cycles. However, this can depend on factors like age of each parent and health of egg and sperms; what’s the couples’ overall fertility diagnosis, and overall health of both the parents. For instance, a younger woman with no underlying fertility issues might conceive after just one cycle. But an older woman with multiple infertility factors might require more attempts. Some individuals may need up to 3 or more cycles to achieve success. This could be dependent on the sperm health of the male also, depending on his age and lifestyle issues.

Each person’s, each couple’s journey is unique, and success rates depend on individual couple. But a strong will and positive approach always helps.

Unsuccessful IVF What’s Next? Exploring Other Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)

When faced with IVF failures, individuals may turn to more advanced ART methods to increase their chances of success. We are sharing all this and more in simple words and details:

Assisted Reproductive Technologies

1. One such option is intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In this process after multiple failed IVF cycles, a single sperm is directly injected into an egg to facilitate fertilization. This procedure is ideal for cases of male infertility or previous IVF failures due to poor fertilization.

2. You also must go in for Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). After unsuccessful IVF, this specifically allows for the screening of embryos for genetic abnormalities before implantation. This helps in reducing the risk of miscarriage and improving the chances of a successful pregnancy if previous failures were a result of genetic abnormality or parental age is advance.

3. Additionally, using donor eggs or sperm can overcome genetic or fertility issues that have caused multiple failed IVF cycles due to advance age of parents. However, it’s essential to consult with fertility specialists to determine the most suitable alternative ART method based on individual circumstances and medical history. A good and trustworthy IVF expert will be ensuring higher chances of achieving a successful pregnancy and no miscarriage.

Unsuccessful IVF? Asian IVF Fertility Centre is here to Help You! 

Facing IVF challenges can be tough, but at Asian, we’re here to help. We understand the difficulties you may encounter, whether it’s due to age, genetic factors, or other issues. Our experts and team specialise in personalized strategies customized to your unique body and its situations. Whether you’ve experienced multiple failed IVF cycles or are facing unexpected obstacles, Asian IVF is dedicated to supporting you. Don’t face these challenges alone – trust Asian to be by your side every step of the way.

FAQs:

What are common reasons for multiple failed IVF cycles?

Common reasons include poor egg quality, sperm issues, uterine abnormalities, and genetic factors.

Can lifestyle changes improve IVF success after multiple failures?

Yes, lifestyle changes such as reducing stress, improving diet, and quitting smoking can help.

Does male infertility contribute to multiple failed IVF cycles?

Yes, male infertility issues like poor sperm quality can lead to IVF failure.

Dr. Atishay Jain

Dr. Atishay Jain is an Obstetrician and Gynecologist, fertility specialist and advanced Gynae Laparoscopic Surgeon with an experience of performing more than 1000 advanced laparoscopic surgeries. He is the co-director of Asian Institute of infertility management and Asian women’s center.

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