Doing fertility treatments over a period or continuously throughout the year disturbs the women and couples facing infertility issues. But what can they do when there are no results? How many times can a couple undergo in vitro fertilization in a single year?
This blog will provide you with the answers for these questions and make the in vitro fertilization treatment more easy and successful.
Let’s begin with what is the success rate of IVF as per the age and number of cycles.
How many times can a woman undergo IVF in one year?
The number of in vitro cycles a woman can undergo in one year varies according to certain factors. Still, many fertility experts suggest 3 to 4 times a patient can do IVF and they should maintain a specific time interval.
Considering a specific time between two fresh IVF cycles might be important for increasing the success of pregnancy. It means women need to wait about 4 to 6 weeks after the embryo transfer and a negative pregnancy test result.
Even after leaving the sufficient interval and after undergoing back-to-back IVF cycles, some women can’t witness success. And, factors affecting the in vitro fertilization are the reasons for such failures. Take a glance at them!
Number of IVF cycles and approximate success rate
| Age | First cycle | Second cycle | Third cycle |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Women under 30
|
43%
|
59%
|
66% |
|
From 30 to 31
|
48%
|
61%
|
67%
|
|
From 32 to 33
|
44%
|
60%
|
67%
|
|
From 34 to 35 |
40%
|
54%
|
61%
|
|
From 36 to 37
|
32%
|
44%
|
50%
|
|
From 38 to 39
|
22%
|
32%
|
38%
|
|
From 40 to 41 |
13%
|
21%
|
25%
|
|
From 42 to 43
|
6%
|
10%
|
11%
|
|
44 and above
|
2%
|
5%
|
5% |
Factors influencing the number of IVF cycles
Fertility issues
Severe fertility problems can influence the results of in vitro fertilization and increase the number of cycles. The fertility issues can be polycystic ovarian syndrome for a long time, endometriosis, and male factors like low sperm count, motility, and irregular structure of sperm. Therefore, consult your fertility specialists as they can help to address the issues before the in vitro fertilization, which can reduce the number of IVF cycles.
Health conditions
Previous history of infertility issues or other medical conditions like cancer can interrupt the fertility treatment medications. Therefore, make sure to openly discuss with your healthcare provider regarding such issues and then decide whether you can undergo the treatment or not.
Age
Age is the most pivotal factor affecting the IVF cycles, because young women can achieve more success than older women. This is a natural process, so no one could complain and patients can only accept and follow the doctor’s decision.
Emotional and psychological state
The emotional and psychological state can get affected while undergoing in vitro fertilization, and women need to take more medicines from the beginning of the procedure. And, the disappointments that many women witness during the failure of in vitro fertilization can make them weak in the aspect of emotions and their psychology.
Therefore, these are some important barriers affecting the in vitro fertilization process and increase the number of cycles. However, the more number of cycles may cause several risks to the patients in the future.
Risks of multiple IVF cycles
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) can happen when the ovaries react too much to fertility drugs. This can lead to painful swelling in the abdomen and feelings of nausea. Women may find their bodies feel out of control during this time.
Fertility treatments can be very expensive, often costing thousands of dollars per cycle. Many people face difficulties because insurance may not cover these costs. The financial pressure can cause stress and worry about money. Couples might find it hard to talk about their finances, especially when they want a baby.
Multiple pregnancies can carry extra health risks for both the mother and babies. These include being at risk for preterm labor and other complications. It’s important to talk with doctors about these risks and prepare for any situation.
What can a woman do if the IVF cycle is a continuous failure?
Women can consult their fertility doctors when they’re experiencing continuous IVF failures. The doctors can provide you with a certain set of lifestyle changes and prescriptions that ensure successful pregnancy outcomes.
They could also suggest you PGT preimplantation genetic testing that examines the embryo before transferring it into the uterus. This test prevents miscarriages by identifying the abnormalities after fertilization of the egg and sperm in the laboratory.
In case of young couples, doctors may recommend alternate fertility treatments like intrauterine insemination or intracytoplasmic insemination. Thus, consult the best fertility expert in the city to get the exact treatment according to the reproductive health condition.
Key takeaway
In the end, couples should keep in mind that the success rate of in vitro fertilization depends on diverse factors. And, they can undergo up to 3 or 4 cycles in a single year, still the fertility doctors can suggest the accurate number of times a woman can do it. Therefore, consulting the best fertility doctor is essential to be aware of the exact numbers of IVF cycles they can go through.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Even though there are no fixed limits for doing in vitro fertilization, patients can experience potential side effects such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and emotional impacts after facing so many disappointments
Yeah, there is a chance because obesity, lower or higher BMI, and smoking and alcohol drinking habits can increase the chances of IVF failure. So, focus on improving your lifestyle habits at least 3 to 6 months before trying for conception.
Patients can expect pregnancy-related, emotional, and physical side effects. It can be OHSS, blood clots, infections, abdominal bleeding, allergic reactions, breast tenderness, headaches, increased stress, miscarriages, and ectopic pregnancies.
Every IVF cycle is completely independent and the success of these treatments varies according to the factors influencing IVF. Still, the second in vitro fertilization cycle is considered more successful than the first as many women got improved results in it.
Yes, in vitro fertilization is one of the best fertility treatments, but the thing is couples must choose the right fertility hospital. It’s because the healthcare provider’s expertise and infrastructure with the use of advanced equipment also decides the success of treatments.
