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How Many Times Can IVF Be Done

How Many Times Can IVF Be Done?

Getting pregnant and having a healthy baby is becoming more and more difficult nowadays. According to recent studies, about 1 in 6 couples have trouble getting pregnant naturally.

The industrial advancements and unhealthy lifestyle practices people follow today are the major causes of infertility. In such a scenario, it is natural for you to seek fertility treatments IVF to get pregnant and have your own baby.

You might have a lot of questions about IVF, with one of the most common being how many times you can go through IVF treatments.. This article will help you understand how many times you can undergo IVF and when you should know it is time to quit. Continue reading to learn more.

How Many Times Should I Undergo IVF?

When you began your IVF treatments, you probably anticipated that it would take just one or two cycles to become pregnant. But sometimes, things don’t go as planned, and you might be undergoing five or even six cycles to get pregnant successfully.

According to studies, only around 40–50% of couples undergoing IVF get pregnant within their first or second cycles. Most couples need to undergo four or five cycles before getting pregnant.

All is well if you finally got pregnant. But what if you don’t? How many cycles can you undergo before you should stop?

Some fertility doctors don’t have any restrictions on how many cycles one can undergo. As long as the cycles don’t cause you any side effects and you have the financial resources to support them.

However, most fertility doctors believe that six cycles is the average number of cycles one can undergo. If you’ve been unable to get pregnant after your sixth IVF cycle, your chances of success in future cycles are quite low. Moreover, you will also have too many financial constraints.

All the Best for your IVF Journey !

As a fertility Doctor, I understand how you feel, and I’m here to help. Check out my IVF guide to support you on this journey.

For How Much Age Can I Try?

As you already know, age is an important factor in determining your success rate in IVF treatments. The older you get, the lower your chances of having a successful IVF cycle.

Most fertility doctors will allow you to undergo IVF till you are in your late 40s. Some might even allow you to undergo IVF when you are 50 years old, given that you are in good health and have no fertility issues.

However, IVF can become difficult if you are above this age. Your egg quality will be low, and your body won’t be able to carry the baby till full term. if you can’t improve the quality of Egg. the In those cases, you can consider two options:

  • You can use a donor egg if your egg quality is low.
  • You can hire a surrogate to carry and deliver your baby.

When should I Quit IVF?

We saw above that fertility doctors recommend couples try only six IVF cycles before trying other fertility methods. But six is not a standard number. Your doctor will decide how many cycles you can undergo based on several factors, some of which have been discussed below.

1. You are getting older

As we discussed, your fertility and chances of getting pregnant decrease as your age increases. Most doctors suggest you quit IVF and consider other fertility treatments if you have crossed 45 years.

2. The IVF treatments are affecting your body and health

If you’re concerned about whether IVF affects a mother’s health, an IVF cycle does involve taking regular fertility medications and undergoing two invasive procedures: egg retrieval and embryo transfer. These can impact your body and temporarily disrupt your quality of life. It may be worth considering stopping IVF if the side effects of treatment become too challenging.

3. The treatment is harming your relationship with your partner

During IVF treatments, you will be focused entirely on the treatment and on having your baby. This can make your partner feel left out and can harm your relationship. If you feel friction between you and your partner, halt the IVF treatment and spend time with your partner.

4. You are in a financial crisis

An IVF cycle can be expensive, and undergoing multiple cycles, one after another, can put a big hole in your pocket. You might even have a huge debt from borrowing money for the treatments.

If the expenses go higher than what you can manage, quit the IVF treatment and try again once you are financially stable. This is because when you fail an IVF cycle, your doctor will do an extensive analysis of why your cycle failed.

This can show them where they went wrong and rectify those mistakes in the future cycles.

How Successful Is IVF After 5 Attempts?

The success of your IVF treatments depends on various factors, like your health, fertility condition, age, etc. Your doctors recommend you undergo multiple cycles because the IVF success rates increase as the number of cycles increases.

Couples with a 40% success rate during their first cycle will have a 50% success rate during their second cycle, around 60% during their third, and so on. Below is a table depicting the approximate success rate for each cycle.

Remember that this table is just an approximation and that the success rate of your cycle depends on various factors like your age, fertility condition, embryo quality, etc.

Number of cycles Approx. success rate
1
40%
2
50%
3
55-60%
4
60-65%
5
65-70%

Conclusion

There are no restrictions on the number of cycles you can undergo in IVF treatments. However, it is best to be mindful of the several factors we discussed above and know when to stop the treatments.

If you are unable to continue IVF but want to have your own baby, you can discuss it with your doctor and choose a surrogate to carry and deliver your baby. Remember that there are always other options, and you don’t have to strain yourself too much to have a baby.

FAQs

What are the signs of failed IVF?

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
What comes after failed IVF?

Failing an IVF cycle is normal, and most couples need to undergo at least three cycles before they can get pregnant. You might feel depressed and physically worn out after an IVF cycle. Rest for some months, recover, and try undergoing the treatments again.

Can I try naturally after a failed IVF?

Yes, though very rare, some patients have been able to get pregnant naturally after a failed IVF cycle. It all depends on the individual body condition and is not applicable to everyone.

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Dr Niveditha

Dr. Niveditha is the co-founder of The Hive Fertility and Research Centre. She is a young and passionate fertility expert who aims to provide high-quality fertility treatments to her patients. During her 10+ years of service as a fertility expert, she has helped several hundreds of patients overcome their infertility and become parents. She also specializes in the fields of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive endocrinology

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