Reasons for IVF Failure and What To Do Next?

An IVF failure is the result of an in-vitro fertilized embryo failing to implant itself on the uterine lining after its transfer. Going through an IVF treatment failure could be quite discouraging. However, consulting healthcare professionals and taking the advised routes might help you make better decisions regarding IVF treatments in the future.

Why IVF Treatment Fails?

An IVF failure can be caused due to several different reasons. One of the most critical reasons that lead to an IVF failure is the incapability of an embryo to plant itself properly on the uterus lining, or even if the embryo has been transferred to the uterus, its lining is quite obviously incompatible with it.

Besides this, there are a host of other reasons that can result in IVF failure. A woman suffering from some sort of pelvic infection makes her uterus lining prone to being not compatible with the embryo, hence leading to an IVF failure.

Another of the most common reasons for IVF failure is abnormal sperm. An abnormal sperm will, in all certainty, lead to an unfertilized egg. A male sperm always has to penetrate the outer membrane of a female’s gamete (egg) and release half of its genetic material into it so that there’s a possibility of forming a healthy embryo. An abnormal sperm can be crooked or have a large head or a double tail, which makes it impossible to fertilize the egg.

The failure of IVF treatment can also be owing to factors like chromosomally abnormal embryo production. Preimplantation genetic screening enables doctors to identify whether the embryo is genetically abnormal or not. Another cause that potentially leads to the failure of IVF treatment is when both the sperm and the uterus do not meet the required fertility parameters.

The failure of IVF treatment can also take place owing to conditions like poor egg quality, Adenomyosis and severe Endometriosis which are other prominent causes of IVF treatment failure. 

The other factors that might lead to a failed IVF treatment include an unfavorable genetic condition, poor semen DNA qualities, and factors like age and poor lifestyle.

IVF Failure Symptoms

The symptoms of IVF failure mainly include no implantation bleeding, absence of symptoms of pregnancy like breast tenderness, nausea, increased sensitivity to smells and fatigue, no irregular menstrual period, and a negative pregnancy test. 

Women tend to experience light bleeding or spotting when the fertilized egg gets attached to the lining of their uterus. When this doesn’t occur, there’s usually no bleeding, and it could mean an IVF failure, but not always.

The symptoms of IVF failure, as discussed above, also include a negative pregnancy test, which means when a woman conducts a pregnancy test at home after a missed period, its result turns out to be negative, which suggests that the implantation hasn’t been successful.

The same can be said when a woman is experiencing a regular menstrual cycle, and there are no missed periods. 

Also, it is very important to keep in mind that these symptoms are not definitive proof of a failed IVF treatment. It’s always advised to conduct a healthcare professional if you’re concerned regarding your pregnancy.

IVF Failure Reasons and Causes

The reasons for IVF failure can be quite a few, ranging from an unhealthy lifestyle to abnormal and genetically defective sperm DNA to unsatisfactory Ovarian and Uterine qualities.

Here’s a look at the reasons for IVF failure:

Age

With age, there’s a significant decrease in both the quality and the quantity of eggs. As women grow older, the reduced quality of eggs produced may lead to an unsuccessful IVF treatment.

Embryo Quality Age

Chromosomal abnormalities lead to the production of weak embryos that fail to get implanted in the uterine lining. This is also considered to be one of the main causes of a failed IVF treatment.

Sperm Quality

Sperms are the ones fertilizing the egg. The sperm cells need to be motile, healthy, and sufficient in quality to be able to fertilize an egg and, thereby, lead to pregnancy.

Uterine Abnormalities

When the uterus fails to nourish the embryo for sustained growth, the implantation procedure fails, leading to an unsuccessful IVF treatment.

Ovarian Response

When fewer than four mature follicles are produced upon being stimulated via medicines, it’s said to be a poor ovarian response.

Why Does IVF Fail with Good Embryos?

An embryo that looks all perfect under a microscope might still have genetic or chromosomal abnormalities, for example, an embryo with good morphology having aneuploidy. This is crucial in leading to an unsuccessful IVF treatment.

Also, when the embryo tries to attach itself properly to the lining of the uterus, there may be certain issues that don’t allow it to get implanted. This is something that even the most leading healthcare professionals can’t control fully.

Hormonal imbalances are another reason why good embryos might still lead to a failed IVF treatment.

Factors like smoking, consuming alcohol, being overweight, and suffering from stress are all factors contributing to a poor lifestyle, and all these can, in turn, affect an IVF treatment.

IVF Failure: What Next?

When IVF Failure does occur, the patient should discuss the status of her IVF treatment and share everything in detail with a reproductive endocrinologist or with a fertility specialist. The doctors offering  IVF treatment will provide you with the guidance and expertise needed to take the next step in your journey towards parenthood.  

Freezing the viable eggs or the embryos during the first IVF treatment might allow the woman to achieve complete hormonal balance.

Taking a short break, as often suggested by healthcare professionals, is a great way to focus on well-being and spending quality time with loved ones.

Alternatively, when IVF treatment fails, there are other options ready to be explored, like Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), donor egg and sperm options, Gestational Surrogacy, and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).

Conclusion

Lastly, it can be concluded that an IVF treatment failure might be caused by various reasons, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t be pregnant anymore!

IVF treatments can be repeated, and if the result is still not in your favor, you can try fertility solutions like gestational surrogacy, IUI, and ICSI. 

Make sure to have a healthy lifestyle, and try to keep yourself away from things that can impact your mental health and the implantation procedure.

Plan B Fertility is one of the best fertility centre in Hyderabad, with treatments starting from ₹1,00,000. Schedule an appointment today to learn how we can assist you in your journey to parenthood.