Why does IVF failure Occur?

IVF procedure takes a lot of effort from you and the doctors. You are invested in IVF emotionally and financially too. So any IVF failure can have a significant impact on your morale. A lot of patients start searching for answers about what went wrong and what they can do to ensure their next IVF attempt becomes successful.

This blog will try to address these questions and will be very helpful for many patients. So, let’s begin with the basics first.

What is the success rate of IVF on the first attempt?

The success rate of the IVF’s first attempt is around 40 to 60%. Even if you are young, all your reports are normal, and you are healthy, the success rate of IVF is around 60% only. So we can say that luck, too, plays a vital role in the success of the IVF procedure. Know this; you don’t have to feel disheartened if your first IVF attempt fails; you are not the only one. There is a strong probability that your 2nd attempt might be successful.

Now let’s take a look at the reasons behind IVF failure.

Reasons behind IVF Failure in the first attempt

Their reasons for IVF failure can be broadly categorized into four categories. These are:

•  Issue with  the husband’s sperm: It’s possible that there is some issue with your husband’s sperm which might have led to the IVF failure
•  Issue with the wife’s egg: It’s also possible that there is some issue with your egg which might have led to IVF failure
• Issue with the uterus: If the embryo is unable to implant in the uterus and grow, this too can lead to the IVF failure
• The inability of your doctor: This is the most common and yet most ignored reason. There is a strong possibility that your doctor was not good enough, leading to your IVF failure.

So if your egg quality was good, sperm quality was good, egg numbers were also good, and blastocysts were also good, the first two reasons can be easily ruled out. Moreover, if your uterus’s lining where the embryo implants itself was good, i.e. above 8 mm, then the third reason can be ruled out too. And if you are consulting professionals like the one at Gunjan IVF World, you can rest assured about the ability of our doctors.

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Even after all these factors favoured you and your first IVF attempt failed, you can say it was just a matter of luck. In such a case, you don’t have to do anything in particular. You should continue with the same doctor for further treatment.

Generally, we recommend some pre-test on patients who have to deal with a failed IVF attempt. Some primary tests include thyroid tests and immunological tests to identify what went wrong. And if there are some fertilized embryos left, you might use those for the next attempt. In the second transplant, your success rate remains the same, i.e. 40% to 60%. But it’s important to note that the cumulative pregnancy rate will increase considerably.

If your egg quality is not good enough, your doctor might suggest some multivitamin tablets and injections. You should carry on this treatment for 2 to 3 months before proceeding with the next attempt. This can significantly increase your chances of success. If your eggs’ quality is not improving even after taking medications, your doctor might recommend you go ahead with the donor’s eggs.

Similarly, if there was an issue with your husband’s sperm, i.e. it wasn’t able to fertilize the egg during the previous IVF procedure. The doctor might suggest a different technique. It’s known as Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection or ICSI. In this process, a single sperm is directly injected into the egg. This can significantly improve the success rate of embryo formation.

But if the embryo was good, looked normal and had no issue, there is a possibility that there was some genetic issue with it. Your doctor might recommend “Pre-implantation Genetic Testing” to diagnose this issue. Doctors check the embryo’s cells during this test to identify any potential genetic defect.

Some Immunological problems too can lead to an IVF failure. This might have resulted in the failure of the embryo’s implant in the uterus. So doctors will run a few tests to identify these immunological issues. If that’s the reason, certain injections and medications can suppress your immunity and prevent it from destroying the embryo.

If there is something wrong with your uterus, i.e. the formation of the uterine lining is improper, or some fibroids present, it must be addressed first. These conditions can be treated with a procedure known as Hysteroscopy. Doctors recommend the second attempt only after performing this procedure to improve results.

The final issue can be with your doctor. If your doctor is not transparent about his/her approach, is not sharing proper information or not offering the right guidance, you should try to sort out the issue by talking with them. If the problem persists, we recommend switching your doctor. This will ensure you do not waste your precious resources and time.

A certified professional like the ones at Gunjan IVF World will always guide you to the right path. If you are doing something wrong, he/she will ensure that you move on the right path. You should always consider a doctor who offers you enough time, listens to your problems, and provides personalized treatment. It’s important to note that the success of IVF treatment depends on a personalized approach. The medication, injections, and other treatments for each patient vary. So it’s not the “one-size-fits-all”.

Wrapping up

Before we end this blog , we strongly recommend you be realistic. The success ratio of IVF’s first attempt is around 40 to 60% only. So if your first attempt has failed, you should also go for the 2nd and 3rd attempt. We hope this piece has cleared many of your doubts regarding the causes of IVF failure. If you need more information or further assistance, feel free to reach out; we are always here to assist.