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When To Give Up On IVF

Knowing the Right Time to Move Forward

After multiple rounds of treatments, it’s natural to wonder when to give up on IVF. This decision can leave you emotionally, physically, and financially drained. If you’re struggling to determine whether it’s time to stop trying IVF, there are options out there that can help you fulfill your dreams of becoming parents.

To learn more about surrogacy as a path to parenthood, contact our team today.

Whether you’re on your last IVF attempt or are exploring other family building options, this guide will help you understand:

Should I Consider Giving Up on IVF?

If you've gone through several IVF cycles and haven't achieved pregnancy, this may be a sign that your body is not responding well to treatment. Many specialists agree that after three to six unsuccessful cycles, the likelihood of success starts to diminish.

If IVF keeps failing despite following all medical recommendations, it’s worth discussing with your doctor whether continuing is the best option or if exploring alternatives would be more effective.

Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) IVF is a condition where good-quality embryos fail to implant after multiple transfer attempts. Even with seemingly perfect embryos, if implantation does not occur, this could indicate an underlying issue with the uterine environment or the embryo quality itself.

Repeated IVF failure with good quality embryos can be incredibly frustrating and may point to issues that IVF alone cannot solve.

Experiencing a miscarriage after IVF can be heartbreaking, especially after the physical and emotional investment of fertility treatments. If you have had one or more miscarriages following IVF, it’s important to discuss your options with your doctor.

Recurrent miscarriage and IVF failures may indicate an underlying issue that needs addressing before continuing treatment. Sometimes, genetic abnormalities in the embryos or issues with the uterus might be the cause.

Even when using donor eggs, some couples still face IVF failure with donor eggs. While donor eggs typically increase the chances of success, this outcome could indicate that there are other factors at play, such as uterine health or immunological issues, that IVF cannot address.

If you’ve experienced donor egg failure, it may be time to explore other family-building options like surrogacy.

For individuals with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), PCOS and IVF failure may occur despite attempts to manage the condition.

While PCOS can be treated with fertility medications, in some cases, the ovarian response to stimulation may not be optimal, resulting in poor-quality eggs or embryos. If you’ve faced multiple failed cycles due to PCOS, it may be time to discuss alternative treatments.

Endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, can negatively impact IVF outcomes.

Endometriosis and IVF failure can occur if the endometrial tissue affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or uterus, leading to issues with egg quality, embryo implantation, or overall fertility.

Moving on After Failed IVF: Exploring Surrogacy

If you’ve experienced multiple failed IVF cycles, know that you still have other ways to grow your family.

If you have remaining embryos from IVF, surrogacy could help fast-track your journey to parenthood. With your embryos already created, you won’t need to go through the IVF process again, and instead, you can match with a qualified surrogate to carry your baby.

Surrogates are thoroughly screened to ensure they are physically and emotionally prepared for the journey, which helps increase the chances of a successful pregnancy. This includes:

  • Self-disclosed medical, social and drug history
  • Reviewing of official medical records and birth records
  • A complete medical workup to check blood type, hormone levels, Pap smear, uterine check, STD testing and more.
  • Drug testing and blood work to test for infectious disease for both the surrogate and their spouse.

Many couples who have faced IVF challenges find success through surrogacy. To learn if surrogacy is right for you, contact us online now.

Read More: Moving From IVF to Surrogacy

How Many IVF Attempts Before Giving Up?

Deciding when to stop IVF treatment can vary based on your unique circumstances, resources and emotional readiness. There is no set number of attempts that apply to everyone, and it’s natural to weigh the physical, emotional, and financial aspects as you continue or consider other options.

Consulting your fertility specialist can be helpful—they can assess your treatment history, discuss alternative family-building options, and offer insight into what may work best for you. Remember, this decision is ultimately yours, and there is no “right” or “wrong” answer.

Questions to Ask After a Failed IVF Cycle

In some cases, treatments like egg or embryo donation, or even adjusting IVF protocol, may be alternative paths worth exploring. Consulting with your doctor or a fertility specialist can help you understand if these options fit your needs, or if it’s time to move on.

Before making a final decision, it’s essential to have an open and honest conversation with your fertility specialist. Here are some questions that can help guide you:

  • How many more IVF cycles would you recommend based on our history?

  • Are there any medical reasons we should stop treatment?

  • What are the chances of success if we continue?

  • Are there alternative treatments you recommend?

  • What are the emotional and financial impacts of continuing?

    Understanding Embryo Quality and IVF Success Rates

    Embryo quality is one of the major factors that have an effect on IVF success rates. Below are a few examples of when embryo quality can lead to multiple IVF failures:

    How to Move On From Failed IVF

    Giving up on IVF can be incredibly difficult, but it’s important to accept where you are and take the time to process your emotions. Grief, anger and even a sense of failure are common feelings. But remember, you are not alone, and there are resources available to help you cope with these emotions.

    Moving forward doesn’t have to be immediate, and taking the time to emotionally recover is a critical part of deciding what comes next. Give yourself time to rest and reflect before moving on to another path. Whether that means surrogacy or something else entirely, understanding that it’s okay to pause and heal is an important step in moving forward.

    Counseling and Therapy

    Speaking with a counselor who specializes in fertility or grief can help you process your emotions and provide tools to cope with the stress and sadness that often follow the decision to stop IVF.

    Read More: Infertility Counseling and Support

    Support Groups

    Connecting with others who have gone through similar experiences can provide much-needed emotional support. Online communities, like IVF forums, are filled with stories from people who have faced the same struggles and found comfort in knowing they aren’t alone.

    Practice Self-Care

    Practicing meditation and self-care can help you regain a sense of peace and control over your life. Allow yourself to grieve, but also give yourself the space to heal.

    Starting a New Journey

    Moving on from IVF failure is never easy, but it’s a decision that many families face after multiple unsuccessful attempts. Whether it’s the result of financial strain, emotional burnout or underlying medical issues, it’s important to take the time to reflect and explore your next steps.

    Whether you choose surrogacy or take some time for yourself, know that there are options available to help you grow your family. And whatever path you take, allow yourself the grace to feel all the emotions that come with this challenging process. Fill out our online contact form to learn more about your next steps after failed IVF. You’re not alone.

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