Intended Parents

Why Can’t I Get Pregnant with Uterine Scarring? Options After Failed IVF

You can get pregnant with scar tissue on your uterus, but it comes with health risks. It’s not your only path forward to growing your family.

Scarring in uterus causing difficulty getting pregnant affects thousands of hopeful parents, but it doesn’t mean your dream of growing your family is over.

With the right support and a comprehensive understanding of your options—including surrogacy—you can still welcome the baby you’ve been hoping for, even when traditional IVF hasn’t worked.

Schedule a consultation today and discover how surrogacy can bypass the barriers that uterine scarring creates, giving you a clear path to parenthood with the genetic connection you desire.

This guide will help you understand what uterine scarring means for your fertility, why IVF may have failed, and how surrogacy offers a safe, effective alternative that thousands of families have successfully used to grow their families.

Can I Get Pregnant with Scar Tissue On My Uterus?

Getting pregnant with scar tissue on your uterus presents significant challenges that affect both conception and pregnancy maintenance. Uterine scarring, medically known as Asherman’s syndrome, creates adhesions within the uterine cavity that can prevent a fertilized embryo from properly implanting or developing.

When you have uterine scar tissue and IVF attempts, several fertility complications can occur:

Scar tissue reduces the healthy endometrial surface area where an embryo can attach

Even if implantation occurs, scarring can interfere with proper placental development

Adhesions can block normal menstrual flow, indicating compromised uterine function

Scar tissue can restrict the space needed for proper fetal growth

The severity of your condition determines whether pregnancy is possible. Mild scarring might allow for pregnancy with treatment, while extensive scarring often makes carrying a pregnancy unsafe or impossible.

What Causes Uterine Scar Tissue?

Understanding what causes uterine scar tissue can help explain why you’re facing fertility challenges. Medical experts identify several common causes of Asherman’s syndrome:

Surgical procedures are the most frequent cause, including:

Dilation and curettage (D&C) procedures, especially multiple procedures
Cesarean sections that require uterine surgery
Fibroid removal surgery (myomectomy)
Removal of uterine polyps

Infections can also lead to scarring:

Endometritis (infection of the uterine lining)
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Post-surgical infections

Pregnancy-related complications may cause scarring:

Retained placental tissue requiring removal
Postpartum hemorrhage requiring surgical intervention
Complications from miscarriage management

The risk increases significantly with each uterine procedure. Women who’ve had multiple D&Cs or complicated pregnancies face higher chances of developing Asherman’s syndrome.

Can IVF Work with Asherman’s Syndrome?

IVF success rates drop dramatically when Asherman’s syndrome is present.

Research published in Fertility and Sterility shows that women with moderate to severe uterine adhesions have significantly lower pregnancy rates and higher miscarriage rates compared to women with normal uterine cavities.

The study found that even after surgical treatment to remove adhesions, many women continue to experience:

Repeated implantation failures
Early pregnancy loss
Re-formation of scar tissue
The need for multiple surgical interventions

While not impossible, the success rates are substantially lower than standard IVF.

Many reproductive endocrinologists recommend considering alternative family-building options, including surrogacy, particularly for women with severe scarring or those who’ve experienced multiple failed IVF attempts.

Surrogacy as a Solution to Asherman’s Syndrome

When uterine scarring prevents you from carrying a pregnancy, surrogacy offers a pathway that bypasses these physical barriers while preserving your genetic connection to your baby. Surrogacy provides a solution for women whose uteruses cannot safely support a pregnancy due to scarring.

Gestational surrogacy works particularly well for Asherman’s syndrome because:

You can still contribute your eggs, creating a baby that is genetically yours and your partner\'s. The surrogate serves as a gestational carrier, providing the healthy uterine environment your embryo needs.

Surrogates undergo extensive medical screening to ensure they have healthy, proven reproductive systems. This dramatically increases the chances of successful implantation and pregnancy compared to attempting IVF with a scarred uterus.

You avoid the potential complications of pregnancy with Asherman\'s syndrome, including placental problems, preterm birth, and the need for high-risk obstetrical care.

The Clear Signs It’s Time to Consider Surrogacy

Recognizing when to transition from fertility treatments to surrogacy can save you months or years of emotional and physical stress. Several indicators suggest that surrogacy may be your most effective path forward:

Medical indicators:

Multiple failed IVF attempts with good-quality embryos
Severe or recurring Asherman’s syndrome after surgical treatment
Medical advice that pregnancy would be high-risk or dangerous
Inability to maintain pregnancies beyond the first trimester

Personal readiness factors:

Feeling emotionally drained by repeated treatment failures
Desire for a more predictable timeline to parenthood
Recognition that your uterus may not be able to support a healthy pregnancy

The decision to pursue surrogacy isn’t a failure—it’s a proactive choice to give your dream of parenthood the best chance of success.

Your Step-by-Step Path to Parenthood Through Surrogacy

Understanding the surrogacy process helps you feel more confident about moving forward. Here’s how your journey typically unfolds:

Select a reputable agency that specializes in gestational surrogacy and has experience with medical necessity cases like Asherman\'s syndrome.

Your agency will match you with a pre-screened gestational carrier who meets medical, psychological, and lifestyle criteria.

Once legal contracts are complete, your embryos are transferred to your surrogate\'s healthy uterus.

Your surrogate carries your baby with full prenatal care and regular communication.

You\'re present for your baby\'s birth and begin your parenting journey immediately.

Speak with a specialist who can help you find a reputable agency that understands the unique needs of intended parents with Asherman’s syndrome, or explore our list of top surrogacy agencies to begin your research.

Find a Reputable Surrogacy Agency

Donor Egg Surrogacy for Asherman’s: Is It Necessary?

Whether you need donor eggs for surrogacy depends entirely on your egg quality and ovarian function, not on your uterine scarring.

Many women with Asherman’s syndrome have perfectly healthy eggs and only need a gestational carrier to provide the healthy uterine environment.

If your eggs are healthy, you can proceed with traditional gestational surrogacy using your own genetic material. Donor eggs become necessary only if you have separate egg quality issues—not because of your uterine condition.

Your Path to Finding the Right Surrogate Quickly and Safely

Working with an experienced agency dramatically improves your chances of finding a well-screened surrogate efficiently. Reputable agencies pre-screen all gestational carriers through comprehensive medical, psychological, and legal evaluations.

Medical screening includes: complete reproductive health evaluation, previous pregnancy records, and psychological evaluation for emotional readiness.

While the background screening covers financial stability assessment, legal background checks, and reference verification.

What if your current wait time could be cut in half? Learn about agencies with shorter wait times and how their screening processes affect your timeline to parenthood.

Surrogacy Wait Times

Understanding the Cost of Surrogacy vs. the Price of Another IVF Failure

When pregnant with uterine scarring and looking at your options, the financial comparison between continued IVF attempts and surrogacy often favors surrogacy for long-term value.

Surrogacy costs typically range from $100,000-$200,000+ for a complete journey, while multiple IVF cycles can accumulate substantial costs without guaranteeing success.

Average IVF cycle costs for Asherman’s syndrome:

IVF cycle with medications: $15,000-$25,000
Surgical adhesion removal: $5,000-$15,000
Multiple failed cycles: $60,000-$100,000+ over 2-3 years

While surrogacy requires a larger upfront investment, it often proves more cost-effective than years of repeated IVF failures.

How to Make Surrogacy Fit Your Budget

If cost concerns are preventing you from pursuing surrogacy, several financing options can make this family-building path more accessible:

Fertility financing companies offer loans specifically designed for reproductive treatments
Grants and scholarships are available through various organizations
Personal loans from banks or credit unions may provide better rates
401(k) loans or hardship withdrawals allow access to retirement funds
Family assistance from relatives who want to support your path to parenthood

Many families combine multiple financing strategies to make surrogacy possible.

You’re Not Alone: Emotional Support for Asherman’s Syndrome

Coping with uterine scar tissue and IVF challenges affects your emotional wellbeing as much as your physical health. The grief of learning that your body may not be able to carry a pregnancy requires processing and support from people who understand your experience.

Online communities provide connection:

r/IVF offers support from others navigating fertility treatments
r/InfertilitySucks provides honest discussion about infertility challenges
Asherman’s syndrome-specific support groups connect you with women facing similar medical challenges

Professional support helps through fertility counselors, therapists experienced in pregnancy loss, and support groups for intended parents considering surrogacy.

Medical information about your condition helps you make informed decisions while connecting with other intended parents who’ve successfully built families through surrogacy.

How to Learn More About Surrogacy

Your journey toward parenthood doesn’t end with an Asherman’s syndrome diagnosis. Thousands of families have successfully welcomed babies through surrogacy after facing similar challenges with uterine scar tissue and IVF attempts.

Understanding your options empowers you to make the best decision for your family. Whether you’re just beginning to explore surrogacy or ready to take concrete steps, connecting with experienced professionals provides the clarity and support you need.

Imagine the moment when you hear, ‘You’re going to be parents!’ Take your next step today and discover how surrogacy can turn your dream of parenthood into reality, despite the challenges that uterine scarring has created.

Get the support you deserve

Asherman’s Syndrome FAQs

Can you get pregnant naturally with Asherman’s syndrome?

Natural pregnancy with Asherman’s syndrome depends on the severity of scarring. Mild cases may allow natural conception, while moderate to severe cases typically require intervention or alternative family-building options like surrogacy.

How do I know if my uterine scarring is too severe for pregnancy?

Your reproductive endocrinologist can assess scarring severity through hysteroscopy, MRI, or ultrasound. If you’ve had multiple failed IVF attempts or recurrent adhesions after surgery, surrogacy may be recommended.

Is surrogacy covered by insurance for Asherman’s syndrome?

Some insurance plans cover surrogacy when it’s medically necessary. Check with your insurance provider about coverage for medical necessity surrogacy related to uterine factor infertility.

How long does the surrogacy process take compared to continued IVF attempts?

Surrogacy typically takes 12-18 months from start to finish, while continued IVF attempts with Asherman’s syndrome can extend over several years with uncertain outcomes.