When you consider the time, money, and emotional energy that go into trying to become pregnant using IVF methods and IVF medications, it would be wonderful if there could be more of a guarantee of success. Unfortunately, science hasn’t gotten to the 100% mark yet where IVF is concerned, and when an IVF cycle is not successful it is only natural to wonder what went wrong.
When IVF Cycles Fail to Produce Results
There are several potential reasons for IVF Cycles that aren’t successful. First, one of the factors has to be the number of eggs that were grown and if they managed to become fertilized normally. Perhaps the embryos that were created had quality problems, and those problems could as easily have stemmed from the egg, itself, or from the quality of the sperm that was used. It is very difficult to pin that down without further testing, and is completely necessary before continuing with IVF protocols.
Often the eggs and sperm and embryo were fine, but the uterine lining was simply too thin to allow for proper implantation. Sometimes there are hormonal factors involved, which the infertility medications have been used to correct. Often these must be adjusted because of the body’s elegant and unique chemistry.
Next Steps After a Failed IVF Cycle
The first thing to know is that it is not the end, and there are more IVF drugs out there that can help. If you have partnered with a really good RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist) then they will regroup and try to decide which further tests need to be done. Protocols will be adjusted based on your body’s chemistry, hormones, and your partner may be tested to rule out any issues with the quality of the semen. You should know that while forums are great for support, IVF is not a cookie cutter science, and what works for one person may not work for another. This is why there is a wide variety of fertility medications and IVF drugs that are all in the same ‘family’ but combine in different ways depending on the person who is taking them.
Don’t Blame the Fertility Meds
It’s very easy to look around and try to blame something externally for a failed IVF cycle. But in reality, aside from environmental factors like long term exposure to harsh chemicals, it is something within the body that is keeping it from reproducing. Finding which mechanism is not functioning, and then correcting it with the proper fertility medications can sometimes take time to ferret out. This is why you will most often see women who are taking a wide range, and combination, of fertility and IVF meds in order to counteract and readjust the body’s hormonal balance, which will in the long run make the body conducive to conception. Fertility medications can actually be your body’s best friend when going through IVF cycles, as they help your body’s ovaries, uterus, and follicles work at their best possible levels. This is why it is of paramount importance that you purchase only namebrand fertility medications, instead of generic meds, because optimal health has a direct correlation with optimal quality in the IVF medications used.