What Is the best time to start next IVF Cycle after a failed cycle?

IVF (in vitro fertilization) has given hope to many infertile couples who do not conceive with conventional infertility treatment. It involves overstimulation of ovaries to produce more than one mature egg which increases the chances of pregnancy more than in a natural cycle. Though initially IVF was recommended only when both fallopian tubes are blocked, the indications for IVF are ever-increasing. It is now commonly used for other indications like endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, male problems, and unexplained infertility, when other treatments fail.

Though IVF now gives the greatest chance of getting pregnant, more than any other fertility treatment, or in a natural cycle, there is no guarantee that you will get pregnant in a given cycle, it is not even near 100%. Therefore, it is recommended that a couple should plan for at least 2-3 cycles to get the best results. This means that having one failed cycle should not make you lose hope, the second or the third cycle still give you the same chances to conceive as the first one.

How to improve the success rate of next IVF cycle?

We cannot always find a reason why a pregnancy did not happen after an IVF cycle. You should however discuss with your IVF team regarding any adverse factors which could be rectified before commencing the next cycle. If you are overweight or have PCOS, you need to lose weight to optimise your hormones and increase your chance of pregnancy. If there was an issue with your uterine lining, you may be advised to have a hysteroscopy. If your tubes are blocked and swollen (hydrosalpinx), you may be advised to have a laparoscopy and have them clipped or removed as they reduce the chance of implantation of the embryos in the uterus. If there are very few or no eggs retrieved or the sperms are very few or abnormal, you may be advised to borrow eggs or sperms from a donor.

Pre-implantation genetic embryo screening can be done in couples when the age of the female partner is more than 37, or repeated pregnancy failures. This helps to choose embryos which are genetically normal for transfer, this may  improve pregnancy rate and reduce miscarriage rate. However, it adds to the cost of the treatment and the embryo transfer will occur in the subsequent cycle.

But if there is no obvious reason for failure, then you just need to try again. Keep your expectations low which reduces stress. Do regular exercise and/or meditation, which is a great way to de-stress yourself. The best fertility specialist will join hands with the patient and make failed attempt a lesson rather than a misfortune.

Best time for next IVF cycle attempt

A study published in the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s journal Fertility and Sterility showed that there is no difference in success rates whether the interval between two IVF cycles is one month or a few months. Hence, couples attempting next cycle can go for it after an interval of one menstrual cycle or 2-3 menstrual cycles. It is important however to adopt a healthy lifestyle with diet and exercise while you are waiting to start the next cycle.

At Miracles Fertility & IVF Clinic, Gurgaon, couples are most welcomed to get free second opinion from the reputed fertility specialist Dr. Renu Misra for such complicated cases and failed cycles.

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