Infertility can be a heart-wrenching experience for couples hoping to start a family. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) has become popular for couples struggling with infertility, but even with good-quality embryos, IVF can fail. You may be left wondering why, despite all the advancements in reproductive technology, IVF can still fail with good-quality embryos.
Embryo transfer is a crucial step in the IVF process, and it involves transferring the fertilised embryo(s) into the uterus of the woman.
While the success of the embryo transfer depends on various factors, including the embryo's quality, other aspects that can affect the outcome come into play. This can be frustrating for couples who have invested time, money, and emotional energy into the IVF process.
Let’s explore the reasons why IVF fails with good embryos.
Reasons for IVF Failure
In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is assisted reproductive technology (ART) that helps couples with difficulty conceiving a child. During IVF, eggs are retrieved from the woman's ovaries and then fertilised with sperm in a laboratory.
After fertilisation, the resulting embryos are cultured and then transferred back to the woman's uterus, with the hope that they will implant and result in a successful pregnancy. But sometimes, IVF fails even after a good embryo. Here are the most common reasons for IVF failure:
- Uterus Health
While IVF has a high success rate, it can still fail even when good-quality embryos are used. Uterus health, including the condition of the endometrial lining, plays a critical role in the success of IVF, and abnormalities in the uterus can be a significant factor in IVF failure.
The endometrial lining, also known as the endometrium, is the inner lining of the uterus that thickens in preparation for the implantation of a fertilised embryo. If the endometrium is not in optimal condition, it can hinder successful implantation, leading to IVF failure. Abnormalities in the endometrial lining, such as polyps, fibroids, adenomyosis, and other conditions, can negatively impact the success of IVF.
The best IVF centre in Delhi may recommend additional tests or procedures to improve uterus health.
Age and Mental Health of the Woman
The success of embryo transfer can be impacted by a woman's age, which is one of the reasons why the technique may fail. As women get older and undergo multiple unsuccessful IVF cycles, the chances of success diminish with each subsequent attempt.
Additionally, mental and emotional stress may also play a role in the failure of IVF. If individuals are experiencing trauma or anxiety related to previous unsuccessful IVF attempts or other factors, their mental well-being can contribute to a lack of success in achieving pregnancy.
After embryo transfer during an IVF cycle, various medications may be prescribed to support the implantation process and improve the chances of a successful pregnancy.
Genetic Abnormalities
Genetic abnormalities in embryos can be a reason for IVF failure, including cases where there is developmental arrest and the embryo does not grow further. Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) or embryo biopsy is a technique that involves the to screen them for abnormal chromosomes before transfer in an IVF cycle.
Embryo quality
In some cases, embryos that initially grow and develop in the laboratory to the day 3 stage grade A, may not progress to the blastocyst stage by day 5 in side the womb. This developmental arrest, which is growth and development of the embryo come to a halt at a particular stage, and the embryo does not continue to develop into a blastocyst could be a reason for implantation failure. This is dependent on the quality of the embryo which in turn is related to egg and sperm quality.
Wrapping Up!
There are several reasons why embryo transfer can fail despite using good-quality embryos. One reason could be the woman's age, as older women tend to have lower success rates with IVF.
If you are struggling with IVF failure, seeking guidance from a qualified fertility specialist like Dr Rhythm Gupta is important. With her expertise and compassionate approach, she can help identify potential underlying causes of IVF failure and provide personalised treatment options to help you achieve a successful pregnancy.
Don't give up on your dreams of starting a family - contact Dr Rhythm Gupta today for supp
ort and guidance.