A complete family is a dream for most people, and having a child is the first step toward it. But as fertility issues are on the rise, couples must be aware of what steps to take to deal with the problems. The most challenging situation to deal with is a failed fertility treatment cycle. It is not just encouraging for couples, but it is like a ray of hope.
After a failed fertility treatment cycle, there are several options that a couple can take to conceive. Depending on your situation, you must not give up hope and discuss possible treatments with your doctor. If you face repeated IVF failures, it might be time for IVF second opinion.
What IVF failure implies?
IVF is one of the most commonly recommended assistive pregnancy treatments in India. If other treatments like IUI and ICSI don’t work, your doctor can recommend IVF, a comparatively expensive option.
During a conventional IVF cycle, fertility drugs help to overstimulate the ovaries to release eggs. These eggs are then artificially inseminated. If successful, some eggs become fertilized with sperm, resulting in healthy embryos. One or two healthy embryos are then transferred to the uterus.
If the IVF cycle does not reach embryo transfer, it is known as IVF cancellation. It is different from when the embryo is transferred into the uterus but doesn’t result in pregnancy. The result in both scenarios is the same: no pregnancy.
However, if one IVF cycle fails, it doesn’t mean that it won’t be a success next time. On average, it takes 2.7 cycles to achieve pregnancy. There are other factors too that affect the success rate, such as the woman’s age. According to a study, the cumulative live birth rate after three cycles was 42.3%, increasing to 82.4% after eight cycles.
Multiple IVF failure or IUI failure reasons can be several. You should know what to discuss with your doctor to understand the right course of treatment next.
Discussion with your doctor after failed treatment
Whatever treatment you are undergoing, your doctor will discuss your situation and what steps to take next. It would be best if you asked your doctor about:
What went wrong: Sometimes, it is just a matter of trying again. But in some cases, like complex in-vitro fertilization, identifying what went wrong can help deal with the issue and increase the odds of success with the next cycle. Multiple IVF failures can result from several causes; knowing the reason behind the failure is the most important thing.
Discuss the odds of success on the next try: How much success you will have on the next go depends on how many cycles failed before. In some cases, the chances of success are as good as the first time, while the odds of success decrease significantly in others. Some IVF clinics in India use analytical tools to predict the success of the next cycle.
Possible risks of sticking with the same treatment: It is not advisable to stick to the same fertility treatment if the stakes are high. For example, Clomid is not recommended for more than six cycles. It is important to discuss possible solutions with your doctor because repeated failures can be emotionally and financially exhaustive and harmful to your health.
Any additional testing will help: Discuss openly with your doctor what testing can help to improve the chances of success. For instance, genetic screening, karyotyping, immunology tests, or more advanced uterine evaluation can be recommended for thorough checkups if you go for IVF second opinion.
What changes can help: You should ask your doctor about any additional risks, costs, and changes that can improve the success rate of pregnancy. In some cases, you should get IVF second opinion. If there are any underlying medical conditions, your doctor can devise a plan to treat the condition first before starting the IVF or IUI treatment.
Coping with fertility treatments is not easy. Multiple IVF failures can take an emotional and financial toll on you, but you need to be objective. It is essential to keep your options open. Maybe you need more time or a different treatment plan. Also, deciding to move on from fertility treatments is not a failure; surrogacy and adoption remain viable options. It is not wise to try every available treatment; discuss and plan what treatments best suit you with your case.
Conclusion
A failed fertility treatment cycle can be frustrating and discouraging when you have invested time, money, and emotional energy in being pregnant. However, with IVF second opinion, you can discuss further course of action which would help conceive successfully. We hope this article will help you prepare for your next appointment with the doctor to discuss the possible options after a fertility treatment failure.
