Top 10 IVF Failure Reasons You Should Know Before Your Next Cycle

In vitro fertilization can be quite physically and emotionally demanding. Despite undergoing injections, hormonal medications, supplements, egg retrievals, embryo transfers, and other procedures, you haven’t gotten pregnant. IVF failure reasons can be complex and unpredictable, so learning more about them may help make your next cycle successful.

While dealing with failed IVF cycles can be challenging, it can be harder to face them with a lack of knowledge. In this blog, we are highlighting the top IVF failure reasons and what you can do after experiencing a failed IVF cycle.

The following are some of the most common reasons for IVF failure​.

1. Sperm Issues

An embryo takes 50% of DNA from the egg and 50% from the sperm. Both sperm quality and quantity decrease after age 35. Poor lifestyle habits like smoking and an improper diet can worsen sperm quality as well.

Along with low sperm count, poor sperm motility, and abnormal sperm morphology, some men also have sperm with high amounts of DNA fragmentation. Fragmented sperm can cause fertilization failure or miscarriage.
Although fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization can be effective to a certain extent, sperm issues are one of the top reasons why IVF fails and may require more advanced medical protocols for success.

2. Poor Egg Quality

Women may have poor-quality eggs due to age or other conditions like PCOS. Typically, egg quality in women decreases past 35. Poor-quality eggs may not survive the process of fertilization or result in poor-quality embryos.

3. Low Ovarian Reserve

Along with good egg quality, women must also have the appropriate number of eggs according to her age. Women who have fewer eggs have lower chances of success with IVF. It is highly likely that the majority of the few remaining eggs are low quality.

4. Embryo Quality

Some embryos are of a lower quality and cannot result in a healthy pregnancy. Poor-quality eggs and sperm may combine to form low-quality embryos. These embryos may cause miscarriage or deformities.

Poor embryo quality can be caused by multiple reasons, such as poor egg quality, poor sperm quality, or insufficient development.

5. Advanced Maternal Age

It is a well-known fact that fertility declines with age. Women older than 35 face a decline in the quality and quantity of eggs, and it can also make the woman unable to give birth successfully.

6. Implantation Failure

Implantation failure refers to the inability of an embryo to implant on the uterine lining. Embryo implantation is an important step for a successful pregnancy, and early implantation loss is one of the most common IVF failure reasons.

Sometimes the endometrium (uterine lining) is too thin for the embryo to implant successfully. Implantation failure can also be caused by embryonic issues or problems with the uterus (see next reason). It can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the specific cause of implantation failure. 

Certain experimental fertility treatments like PRP can help restore the endometrium by thickening it.

7. Uterine Abnormalities

Since the uterus sustains pregnancy, uterine abnormalities like scars, adhesions, and fibroids can all hinder the growth and development of embryos and also disrupt embryo implantation.

Uterine abnormalities are a major reason behind repeated IVF failures. On your next IVF consultation, ask your IVF doctor if surgical removal of any uterine abnormalities may potentially improve your IVF success rates in the future.

8. Poor Ovarian Response

Your IVF cycle will often start with ovarian stimulation, in which you are given hormonal injections to induce your ovaries into producing multiple mature eggs. Some women’s ovaries do not respond well to these medications, which can cause this first stage to fail and lead to failure of the cycle.

Due to the attrition rate of IVF, you steadily lose numbers throughout the IVF process. For example, if the clinic retrieved 20 healthy eggs, only 10 may get fertilized, out of which only 2 might be euploid. When you don’t have enough eggs, you miss out on having multiple chances for embryo transfer.

Poor ovarian response can be remedied by extensively monitoring the IVF cycle and changing the medications, their dosage, or their duration. IVF clinics that offer individualized treatment can help prevent IVF failure due to poor ovarian response.

9. Hormonal Imbalances

The hormones in the female body ensure that pregnancy progresses smoothly. If there are any disruptions in the body’s estrogen and progesterone production, it can cause implantation failure.

Hormonal imbalances are one of the top IVF failure reasons. It can also disrupt the normal functioning of reproductive organs, such as the ovaries. PCOS and irregular periods are the main causes of hormonal imbalances in women.

10. Chromosomal Defects

Certain embryos can look normal but may actually have certain genetic or chromosomal defects, such as missing or extra chromosomes. If both intended parents are carriers* of a specific gene mutation, some embryos may inherit that genetic makeup.

*A carrier is someone who has one copy of a mutated gene but doesn’t have the associated disease.

Genetically normal embryos are called euploid, while abnormal ones are considered aneuploid. Aneuploid embryos can result in failed IVF cycles or the birth of children with severe physical or developmental disabilities.

At Bloom IVF, we offer advanced embryo screening procedures, like PGT, to ensure that only the best-quality euploid embryos are used during IVF treatment.

Additional Reasons for IVF Failure

While the factors we’ve mentioned above are certainly some of the major IVF failure reasons, they’re not the only ones. Infertility is a highly complex condition, and there are many factors that influence IVF treatment and its success.

1. PCOS

PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is one of the top IVF failure reasons in women. This condition makes cysts grow on your ovaries, which causes hormonal imbalances and also lowers egg quality.

Due to irregular ovulation and anovulatory menstrual cycles (periods with no ovulation), women with PCOS have difficulty getting pregnant via natural conception. Consult fertility specialists at Bloom IVF for the best way to treat PCOS for IVF.

2. Endometriosis

In endometriosis, tissue that is similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. This condition can be very painful and cause scarring. Endometriosis negatively impacts the quality and quantity of eggs and also lowers embryo implantation rates.

If you or your partner suffers from endometriosis, a laparoscopy can be performed to surgically remove the tissue before your next IVF cycle.

3. Lifestyle Factors

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be the key to great fertility. Certain lifestyle habits like smoking and drinking alcohol can harm fertility and IVF outcomes by lowering egg or sperm quality.

Obesity, an unhealthy diet, and stress are also factors that can cause IVF failure. We recommend making important lifestyle changes before you undergo IVF treatment and sticking to them to improve your IVF success.

4. Unexplained IVF Failure

Not all failures can be explained by clinical factors. Sometimes, even when all medical tests appear normal, IVF still may not result in pregnancy. This is known as unexplained IVF failure and can be one of the most frustrating diagnoses.

In such cases, seeking second opinions at a top fertility clinic like Bloom IVF and trying personalized protocols like ERA testing may help.

Experiencing IVF Failure: What Next​?

Remember: IVF failure is never your fault. Whether it was a medical factor or simply bad luck, you are not alone in your fertility journey.

After experiencing the disappointment of a failed IVF cycle, the first thing you should do is decide if you want to continue on your fertility journey right away or take a small break for your mental and physical well-being. Dealing with the side effects of IVF treatment is exhausting enough; no need to deal with any extra stress at the moment.

If you choose to continue with IVF, here is what you can do to make your next treatment a success:

Make Lifestyle Modifications

You may have heard from your doctor that smoking, drinking, an improper diet, and a sedentary lifestyle can lower your fertility. By exercising, following a proper diet, and giving up habits like smoking and drinking, you can boost your fertility potential and improve your chances of conception.

Get Emotional Support

Dealing with an IVF loss can be difficult, and this experience may make it harder to consider trying IVF treatment again. Be patient and compassionate with yourself, and speak to friends and family for emotional support.

If possible, speak to a licensed therapist about how IVF failure has affected your life and what you want to do in the future.

Take a Second Opinion

Sometimes, a lack of information or improper protocols can also cause IVF failure. Take a second opinion from Bloom IVF, India’s top fertility clinic, and talk to the country’s best fertility specialists about what you should do next.

Once the cause of your repeated IVF failures is understood, your doctor can tailor your treatment plan to improve your chances of a successful pregnancy.

Explore Other Treatment Options

If IVF doesn’t work, there are other fertility treatments that could potentially give you a better chance at success. For example, ICSI could be a better option for male infertility, and laser-assisted hatching could help if you’re struggling with poor fertilization rates.

Discuss options like sperm sorting techniques, advanced forms of IVF like ICSI, donor options like donor eggs and donor sperm, and surrogacy with your fertility specialist.

Moving Forward

Do not be discouraged: you can still have a successful IVF cycle even if your previous attempt failed. By taking steps to decrease the chances of IVF failure and continuing on your fertility journey, you will soon reach the end and be blessed with a child of your very own!

Most people require two to three IVF cycles to achieve a successful pregnancy. While failure can be disheartening, maintaining a positive and hopeful outlook may help you deal with fertility treatments in the future.

Bloom IVF has helped thousands of patients experience the miracle of childbirth and the joys of parenthood. Book a consultation today and experience top-notch fertility care with high success rates.

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