Are you tired of undergoing IVF and confused about whether you should give up? Then this article will help you make the right decision.
IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) is the most popular choice of fertility treatment for its high success rates. However, there are instances where, no matter how many cycles you undergo, you can’t get pregnant with IVF.
This might confuse you as to whether IVF is the right choice for you. Read this article to understand how many cycles you can undergo and when you should start looking for other treatment options.
How Many Times Can A Woman Try IVF Before Giving Up?
There is no predetermined number of IVF cycles you can attempt to get pregnant. As long as you are healthy and your body does not have any side effects, you can undergo any number of IVF cycles you want.
However, to be on the safer side, fertility doctors recommend an average of 3–4 IVF cycles to get pregnant. Sometimes, you might even get pregnant during your sixth cycle.
The number of cycles you can undergo, and your success rate depends on your age and other health factors. You should discuss with your fertility doctor before determining whether you should continue your IVF cycles.
Number Of IVF Cycles Based On A Woman’s Age
Age is the main factor that determines the number of IVF cycles you can undergo. If you don’t get pregnant within the number of cycles recommended for your age, it is best to give up on IVF and think of alternate fertility treatment options.
| Age Group | Average Number Of Cycles |
|---|---|
|
Under 35 |
3–4 cycles |
|
35–37 |
2–3 cycles |
|
38–40 |
2 cycles |
|
0ver 40 |
1 cycle |
Factors Affecting The Number Of Times A Woman Can Undergo IVF
IVF failure can happen for a number of reasons. Below are some important factors that determine the number of IVF cycles you can have.
Your age
As we discussed above, your age is an important factor that determines the number of IVF cycles you undergo. This is because, as your age increases, your fertility decreases. Your health and fertility will decrease with age, reducing your IVF success and your health.
Poor egg and sperm quality
A successful IVF treatment requires high-quality eggs and sperm for successful fertilization and implantation. If either or both are of poor quality, IVF won’t succeed, no matter how many cycles you try. This can affect the number of IVF cycles you can undergo.
Health and fertility issues
Fertility issues like PCOS, endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes, or low sperm count, and health issues like diabetes, heart problems, etc., can severely affect the number of IVF cycles you can undergo.
Discuss with your fertility doctor and analyze your condition before you undergo IVF treatments.
When Should A Woman Quit IVF
You can undergo any number of IVF cycles you want until you get pregnant. But this is only when you are healthy and your body allows it. There are some instances when it is best to quit IVF and look for other treatment options. Below are some of those instances.
- When you are getting older
- When IVF treatments are affecting your health and body
- When IVF is affecting your relationship with your partner
- When you are in a financial crisis
Approximate Success Rate Of IVF Cycles
Considering the factors that can affect your IVF success rates, the table below depicts the average success rate you can expect during each IVF cycle.
| Number of cycles | Approx. success rate |
|---|---|
|
1 |
40% |
|
2 |
50% |
|
3 |
55-60% |
|
4 |
60–65% |
|
5 |
65–70% |
As you can see, your IVF success rate increases as the number of IVF cycles increases. This is one of the main reasons why doctors suggest youundergo more number of IVF cycles.
What To Do After Giving Up On IVF
IVF is not the final treatment you can undergo for infertility issues. There are other options that have a higher chance of success than traditional IVF methods. Let’s discuss those options below.
ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection)
This is an advanced method of IVF where a healthy sperm is manually injected into the egg’s cytoplasm. The best sperm is injected into the best egg. This can increase your chances of a successful pregnancy.
IMSI (intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection)
IMSI is an advanced method of ICSI where the semen sample is viewed under a microscope, and the sperm with the best morphology is selected to be injected into the egg’s cytoplasm.
Donor eggs, sperm, or embryos
If you or your partner have low-quality eggs or sperm, you can choose to use donor eggs, sperm, or embryos for your fertility treatments.
Surrogacy
If you are older or have any issues that make you unable to carry the baby till full-term, you can hire a surrogate to carry and deliver the baby in your stead.
Conclusion
IVF is one of the best fertility treatment options to help you get pregnant. However, if there are any issues that cause IVF failures, it is best to analyze the condition and opt for other fertility treatments to get pregnant.
So, don’t worry if IVF does not work for you. Your fertility doctor will ensure you have a successful pregnancy and go home with a healthy baby in your arms.
There is actually no pre-determined number of cycles you can undergo for your IVF treatments. Most doctors suggest an average number of 3–4 IVF cycles to get pregnant.
Here are some symptoms you might experience if you had a failed IVF.
- Bleeding and spotting
- No pregnancy symptoms
- Negative pregnancy test
- Cramping and pain
- Periods
Age plays an important role in IVF success. Below is the average success rate of IVF based on a woman’s age.
- Women younger than 35 – 80-95%
- 35-37 years – 70%
- 38-40 years – 60%
- 40-42 years – 40%
- Over 43 years – 20%
