After three failed IVF cycles, you should know that you can still become a parent.
If you don’t know what to do next, we’re here for you. To get more free information about your options after failed IVF cycles, fill out our online contact form.
This article takes a look at what you can do once you find out IVF failed again, from getting a new fertility specialist to considering alternative methods and more.
3 Failed IVF Cycles: What’s Next?
The first thing you should do after multiple failed IVF cycles is to consult with your fertility specialist. They should be able to walk you through the circumstances of your situation and why IVF keeps failing.
IVF may have failed for you because of:
The quantity and quality of your eggs play a significant role when it comes to successful fertilization and implantation. If you are over the age of 35, a lower ovarian reserve is likely and any eggs would considered lower quality. Embryos can have abnormalities even if everything else with egg retrieval and fertilization goes smoothly. Embryos with abnormalities are called aneuploid, and can stop an embryo from implanting or even cause a miscarriage. The endometrium, or lining of the uterus, is where the embryo implants. Implantation can be disrupted by issues such as polycystic ovary syndrome, polyps or the lining not being thick enough. Unexplained infertility occurs when standard fertility tests fail to identify a specific cause for your infertility. This situation can make you feel stuck, as they are often left without clear answers. As you get older, egg quality and quantity decrease which leads to an increase of the chance of genetic abnormalities.
3 Failed IVF Cycles [Your Options]
After a third IVF failure, one of the things you can do involves adjusting your treatment.
This can be as simple as consulting with your fertility specialist about your medication regimen or if you feel its best, consulting a new fertility specialist for a second opinion.
A fresh set of eyes may be able to offer you different insight into how they view your situation after three failed IVF cycles.
If it’s not your fertility specialist, there are other active steps you can take to if you have had multiple failed IVF cycles which include:
Preimplantation Genetic Testing
Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) looks at embryos for any genetic abnormalities.
Aneuploidy is one such genetic abnormality that commonly leads to a pregnancy loss or IVF failure. This genetic abnormality happens as a result of an embryo with not enough chromosomes.
Any change to the number chromosomes that make up a human cell can cause problems with growth, development and function.
Using Donor Eggs/Embryos for IVF
Using donor eggs if a third IVF cycle has failed could be the answer.
An embryo created with the donor’s egg and the sperm of the intended father is placed into your uterus.
IVF with donor eggs may be right for you if you have identified the quality of eggs as the issue after failed IVF cycles or you have a genetic disease you may pass on.
When it comes to using donor embryos, the IVF procedure is the same as if you were using your own embryos. These donated embryos are transferred into the uterus after a regimen of fertility medication.
Gestational Surrogacy
Gestational surrogacy is also an option for you after three failed IVF attempts. Gestational surrogacy gives you the chance to become a parent while maintaining a biological connection to your child.
You can use any embryos you had created for previous IVF cycles. If you do not have embryos leftover, you can create them via IVG using your eggs and sperm or a donor’s or you can acquire donor embryos through a clinic or embryo bank.
Instead of transferring an embryo to your or your partner’s uterus, it will be transferred to a surrogate who will carry the pregnancy to term.
Gestational surrogacy may be right for your situation if you have:
- Medical problems or illness that affect the health of the uterus
- Previous surgeries or hysterectomy that removed the uterus
- Conditions that either make pregnancy too much of a risk or prevent pregnancy altogether
- Unexplained infertility
- Advanced maternal age
Already having embryos means you have already reached one significant milestone in the surrogacy process as you must have embryos before you can be matched with a surrogate.
Whether you already have embryos created or need to create them but want to learn more about surrogacy, we’re here for you. Fill out our online contact form to learn more about the surrogacy process and how it might be right for your situation.
What to Do When IVF Failed Three Times [Get the Support You Deserve]
After three failed IVF cycles, no matter what you decide to do moving forward, you need to take care of yourself.
Parenthood may have been a dream of yours for a while now and after multiple failed IVF cycles, you may be second guessing the process. You’re not alone.
Infertility Counseling
Infertility Support Groups
On top of options like counseling and support groups, lean on your loved ones. Your close circle of family and friends can be a shoulder to lean on while you navigate this journey to becoming a parent.
Get Started
Contact us online to get the support you deserve. You won’t be pushed toward making a decision about surrogacy, we just want to connect you with the professionals you need. With our network of licensed professionals, we can refer you to someone that can help you work through what you are feeling.