If you have undergone one or more unsuccessful in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, you may be feeling any number of emotions, whether that’s frustration, sadness or anger. No matter how you feel, it’s completely normal and valid. If you don’t know what to do when IVF keeps failing, we’re here for you.
Even with multiple failed IVF attempts, you can still start or grow your family. Contact us online to learn how we can support your decision moving forward.
This article will break down why IVF may not have worked for you and the immediate steps you can take in terms of what comes next.
What To Do When IVF Keeps Failing [Your Next Steps]
Talk to your fertility specialist to learn why IVF failed again. Determine your options moving forward. Lean on friends, family, counseling and/or support groups.
Why Does IVF Keep Failing for Me?
If you've been going through IVF and it isn't working as planned, you might feel overwhelmed and frustrated. IVF is often viewed as the last hope for many couples struggling to conceive, so it can be disheartening when things don’t go as expected.
However, it's important to remember that IVF success is influenced by several factors, and understanding them can give you clarity and insight into what might be happening.
The quantity and quality of your eggs play a significant role in the chances of successful fertilization and implantation. Being over the age of 35 can mean a lower ovarian reserve and any eggs you do have may be lower in quality. Embryos can have abnormalities even if everything 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 lining of the uterus, also called the endometrium, is where the embryo implants. Implantation can be disrupted by issues such as fibroids, 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 a chance of genetic abnormalities.Causes of Repeated IVF Failure
What to Do If IVF Is Not Successful
Consult with your fertility doctor to learn more about why IVF wasn’t successful for your situation. If IVF doesn’t work the first time around, adoption, natural pregnancy, preimplantation genetic screening, IVF with donor eggs and gestational surrogacy are all options.
Multiple IVF Failures: What Next?
No matter how long you have been waiting to start or grow your family through IVF, the energy, time and money it takes can extract an emotional toll with repeated, unsuccessful attempts.
You may not know what to do after multiple failed IVF attempts, feeling a wide range of emotions such as grief, anger or sadness.
It’s important to take the time to grieve while focusing on your own well-being physically and especially mentally. This can be done in any number of ways such as:
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Waiting to try again
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Talking about it with your partner
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Getting professional support
Depending on the feedback you receive from your fertility specialist, waiting to try again is a good option because it’s not uncommon for there to be multiple unsuccessful cycles of IVF before a successful cycle.
Embryo donation and surrogacy are two more options you have if you don’t know what to do after multiple failed IVF attempts.
Embryo Donation
Embryo donation is another form of third-party reproduction in which intended parents who had success with or have moved on from IVF donate their leftover embryos to an intended parent(s).
IVF usually creates more embryos than are used for the transfer. These embryos can be stored for later use, destroyed or donated.
Surrogacy
Surrogacy has the same end goal of a pregnancy just like IVF and the other forms of assisted reproductive technology (ART)
If IVF keeps failing, surrogacy allows you to have a genetic connection to your child while a surrogate takes on the responsibility of carrying the child and giving birth.
When you choose surrogacy with us, you’ll always be able to pick your surrogate. The surrogates we show you have already met the medical requirements and passed a screening test to ensure that they can safely achieve and maintain a pregnancy.
If you have experienced multiple failed IVF cycles and are ready to move on, you can use embryos left over from these cycles for surrogacy. Already having embryos means we can match you with a surrogate in an average of 1-6 months, bringing you one step closer to having the family of your dreams.
Get in touch with us today to learn more about surrogacy and why it could be right for your situation.
Coping after Multiple Failed IVF Cycles
Your emotional and physical well-being are both important to keep in mind when going through this family-building process, especially if you have multiple failed IVF attempts.
Here’s how you can put yourself first as you determine what’s best for you moving forward:
Coping Strategies
In terms of your physical well-being, just taking a break before deciding what comes next can be a reprieve from the medical procedures for IVF. Take the time to rest or enjoy your hobbies.
Emotionally, it can take a toll on you and your relationship. One of the ways you can help cope with this toll is to be open and honest about your feelings.
Your partner may be experiencing similar feelings, and leaning on each other can provide comfort. You can both offer mutual support and strengthen your connection through this challenging time.
Counseling
As a full-service surrogacy agency, we can connect you with infertility counselors to get you the professional support you deserve.
Infertility counseling not only addresses the emotional side of multiple failed IVF cycles and their effect on you, but it also helps you learn how to accept the current situation and how to move forward healthily.
Support Groups
Find out more about your options by filling out our online form. We’re here for you whenever you need us.