IVF Failure Symptoms: Expert Advice About Its Causes, Prevention And Coping Methods.
The biggest dream of any couple is having a baby, IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization) is a globally recognized treatment to achieve pregnancy. Since it is a complex procedure for embryo (Fertilized Egg) transfer, it poses some challenges and risks.
IVF offers more success rate compared to Artificial Insemination in general. A person who has, undergone an IVF procedure will have high hopes regarding the pregnancy. IVF has a 50% of success rate. So there is an equal chance for failure. It can happen due to various reasons. Understanding the symptoms of IVF failure as early as possible will be helpful so the person can go for a second or third IVF attempt without delay. In IVF treatment, the chances of pregnancy increase after each attempt.
There are several reasons for IVF failure. Before we learn about the symptoms, let us look into the reasons for IVF failure.
Reasons For IVF Failure
In 1978 Steptoe and Robert Edwards, two British gynecologists, created history. After several failed attempts in the past, It was in this year first successful IVF birth had recorded. Due to the rapid advancement in medical technology and human IVF research, the procedure has been expanding ever since. Yet like any other medical procedure, chances of failure are also there. Here are a few reasons for IVF failure.
1. Age
The age of a patient is significant when it comes to IVF treatment. As you age, the chances of adverse pregnancy are higher. After 35, the complications that come with pregnancy are also higher. Advanced maternal age can result in IVF failure.
The egg quality and fertility of a woman in her mid-thirties are lower compared to a woman in her early twenties. A woman is supposed to produce an egg each month. A higher chance of decline in this process as she becomes older. IVF treatment offers medications for the production of more eggs, nonetheless if the woman is already in a stage of producing low FSH levels, the chances of pregnancy will be lower.
2. Selection Of Embryo
The quality of the embryo plays a vital role in IVF treatment. In in-Vitro Fertilization treatment, a selected embryo will get transferred to the uterus. Before the transfer, an embryologist will carefully choose the best Embryo. The selection of the perfect Embryo still poses many challenges. A successful IVF procedure needs an embryologist with enough experience to use the ideal technique to select a good-quality Embryo for the procedure.
3. Implantation Failure
IVF procedure fails if the embryos haven’t implanted into the uterus lining. The causes behind the failure of implants vary. It happens due to the bad quality of the uterus or the embryo transferred into the uterus.
After embryo implantation, one can follow an IVF success diet to increase the chance of pregnancy.
4. Lifestyle And Diet
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet is relevant after IVF. To conceive, one has to adhere to a healthy diet of green vegetables, protein-rich foods, and healthy fat-filled food. Avoid the consumption of alcohol, smoking, and higher intake of sugar. Drink enough water to stay hydrated.
5. Abnormal Chromosome
Abnormalities in the chromosome are also a reason behind the failure of IVF. The chromosome has a thread-like structure made up of DNA. Chromosomes have the primary genetic material. An embryo with abnormalities will get rejected by the human body. It can result in IVF failure.
These are some of the reasons behind IVF failure. Apart from mentioned reasons, conditions like
- Endometriosis
- PCOD
- Ovarian Reverse
- Low-Level AMH
are also a few of the reasons behind IVF failure. Now let us look at the symptoms of IVF failure.
3 Main Symptoms Of Failed IVF Procedure
One will experience various symptoms after an IVF failure. IVF failure will happen after the implantation of the embryo. Post-implantation and pre-implantation reasons equally fail IVF. A person faces the following symptoms after IVF failure. Recognizing failed IVF is also tricky since many symptoms are similar to successful IVF procedures.
Vaginal Bleeding
The foremost symptom of IVF failure is vaginal bleeding. A person may experience some associated symptoms like:
- Stomach ache
- Nausea
- Tender Breasts
- Back Pain
Negative Pregnancy Test Result
After two weeks of IVF transfer, one can take a pregnancy test. If the result is negative, it indicates IVF failure. Taking an HCG test will also determine the pregnancy. HCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy. The presence of this hormone in the body determines the pregnancy.
Inactivity During Ultrasound
Sometimes a person may fail to notice symptoms of miscarriage only to find the inactivity while taking an ultrasound. A clear sign of failed IVF is inactivity. It happens due to various reasons, including Chemical Pregnancy and Ectopic Pregnancy.
Read More:- Ectopic Pregnancy In IVF: Tips You Can Follow For Prevention
How To Cope With IVF Failure?
Failed IVF can often be heartbreaking to any couple. During difficult circumstances like this keeping a positive outlook will be helpful for future IVF attempts. Trying to understand the reasons and analyzing the current situation based on that helps to get a clearer picture of IVF failure. Following some steps will help to heal yourself in a place like this.
- Hold the IVF treatment for a few months.
- Support each other.
- Take advice from the gynecologist.
- Try to understand the reasons behind the IVF failure and do what is needed to regulate the situation.
- Carefully consider your situation and act accordingly, do not rush.
- Look for other treatments.
Ways To Prevent The Chances Of Failure
Prioritizing a few things will help increase the chances of pregnancy after IVF transfer. Failure of IVF is in the first cycle. Following certain things can improve the chances of pregnancy after an IVF transfer.
- Maintaining a Healthy Diet: Unhealthy diet is not an apt choice after an IVF transfer. Including foods containing Folic acid, healthy fat, nutrients, and protein in your diet is beneficiary after IVF. One has to avoid alcohol, smoking, and drugs during this time. Also, reduce the intake of sugar.
- Maintaining BMI: Maintain a healthy weight after IVF. Body weight impacts the ability to get pregnant after IVF. To maintain a healthy body weight, adopt healthy food habits and exercise.
- Frequent Health Check-Ups: Avoid skipping health check-ups. Regular health check-ups help to diagnose any kind of underlying health problems.
Read More:- IVF Success Guide: Key Steps To Maximize Your Fertility Journey.
Conclusion
IVF treatment has an equal percentage of success and failure rates. Certain health conditions and external factors influence the success of IVF. Recognizing these factors before IVF treatment will increase a person’s chances of getting pregnant after the treatment.
Altogether symptoms of IVF failure are confusing. Successful IVF And Failed IVF both posit the same sorts of physical signs. A pregnant person may display symptoms like nausea and breast tenderness in rare cases, vaginal bleeding is also possible. So communicating with your fertility center will be helpful to find the exact reason. A gynecologist will be able to diagnose the cause behind the symptoms.
Not taking treatment for some underlying health problems may act as a hindrance to successful IVF treatment. Post-IVF care also plays a crucial role in IVF success.
One should be invested during and after IVF. Invest time and effort so that dream of having a baby will become a reality. Creating a supportive environment for the partner who is undergoing IVF will also have a positive impact on the whole procedure.