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Intended Parents

Surrogacy With No Viable Embryos

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When you dream of starting a family, you imagine holding your baby for the first time. But for some, the path to parenthood doesn’t unfold as hoped.

Having no viable embryos after in vitro fertilization (IVF) can be disheartening; it’s completely normal to feel frustrated or defeated. The good news is that there’s still a way forward. Surrogacy offers you the chance to become a parent, even when there are no embryos left to freeze or transfer.

In this article, we’ll look at some common reasons why there are no viable embryos and explore the benefits of building a family through surrogacy. If you’re ready to take the next step, fill out our online form for more information on starting your surrogacy journey.

Benefits of Surrogacy for Couples With No Embryos After IVF

Gestational surrogacy offers hope and possibility for couples who, after IVF, have no embryos left to transfer. With the help of a gestational carrier, you can fulfill your dream of becoming a parent.

Here are some benefits of surrogacy if you have no viable embryos:

  • Allows you to pursue parenthood despite fertility challenges

  • Provides a supportive environment with experienced professionals

  • Can involve egg or sperm donors if needed

  • Offers a structured, legal process for intended parents

  • Brings you closer to the family you’ve envisioned

    Learn more about how surrogacy after failed IVF can be your path to parenthood. If you’re considering surrogacy, you can reach out to get a head start on the process while you create more embryos.

    Preparing for Surrogacy With No Embryos Left to Freeze

    If you’re interested in surrogacy but have no embryos to freeze or transfer, you’ll first need to create embryos for the surrogacy process. Your options may include undergoing another IVF cycle or using donated eggs or sperm. Donor eggs, sperm or both can give you another chance at creating viable embryos, even if previous IVF attempts haven’t worked.

    If going through another IVF cycle isn’t feasible for you, consider using donor embryos. This option provides ready-to-go embryos for transfer, allowing you to bypass the IVF process altogether. By using donor embryos, you can focus on matching with a surrogate and starting your family journey sooner.

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    How Many Embryos Are Needed for Surrogacy?

    Typically, surrogacy agencies recommend having three to five embryos ready for transfer. Having a few embryos provides flexibility in case multiple transfers are necessary. However, the exact number depends on your unique situation and your fertility team’s recommendations.

    8 Reasons for No Viable Embryos

    Sperm quality plays a vital role in fertilization. If there are genetic or structural issues with the sperm, it may struggle to fertilize an egg properly or result in embryos that fail to develop. Factors like low motility, poor morphology or DNA fragmentation can all impact embryo development.

    Lower-quality eggs are less likely to create viable embryos. When eggs are damaged or have abnormal chromosomes, they struggle to progress normally. Issues with egg quality often increase with age but can also occur due to genetic factors, lifestyle or environmental influences.

    If only a few eggs are retrieved, the chances of fertilizing and growing healthy embryos diminish. On average, 70% of eggs fertilize, and of those, only 30% to 50% will make it to the blastocyst stage. This drop-off can be discouraging but is part of the natural process.

    While uterine health may not directly impact embryo creation, it can influence the success of embryo development and implantation. Conditions like fibroids, endometriosis or uterine scarring can contribute to failed implantation attempts, making it harder to achieve pregnancy even if embryos are transferred.

    Age is a significant factor in embryo viability, particularly for women over 35. The older a woman is, the more likely her eggs are to have chromosomal abnormalities. Age can also impact ovarian reserve, reducing the number of eggs available for fertilization in the first place.

    Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome, thyroid disorders or autoimmune diseases can disrupt hormone levels and affect embryo quality. These conditions sometimes interfere with the body’s ability to produce healthy eggs, leading to challenges in achieving a viable pregnancy through IVF alone.

    Hormones like estrogen and progesterone regulate the menstrual cycle and help prepare the body for pregnancy. If hormone levels are off, they can prevent embryos from developing properly, even if they initially appear viable.

    Embryo quality is often evaluated on day three and day five of development. Embryologists grade embryos based on specific criteria, like cell number and symmetry, to predict their viability. Poor-quality embryos may be less likely to implant successfully.

    Surrogacy: A Path to Parenthood Even Without Embryos

    Surrogacy is a family-building option for couples facing the challenge of having no viable embryos. When IVF produces no viable embryos, surrogacy can still give you the chance to experience that magical moment of seeing your child for the first time.

     “I’m staring at my wife, and I’m staring at my surrogate,” intended parent Gilad said. “The baby comes out. Time stops, and you’re overjoyed.”

    If you’re ready to explore surrogacy as a path to parenthood, reach out to us today for more information.

    Male and Female couple smiling with surrogate mother
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