Before you begin IVF treatment, your doctor should assess your reproductive health and overall wellness. Infections, underlying medical conditions, and lifestyle factors can all impact your success rate. Comprehensive assessments help prevent IVF failure by addressing potential uterine and embryo issues. Here are a few ways to identify the potential causes of failed IVF:
Test for Uterine Inflammation
IVF is an assisted reproductive technology that allows doctors to collect eggs and sperm cells, and select the best for fertilization. Once the embryos are formed, they’re transferred to the uterus for implantation. IVF requires a healthy, receptive uterus, which is why doctors test for inflammation. Conditions, such as scarring or endometriosis, may inflame the uterine lining or make it so thin that it can’t support implantation.
Before embryo transfer, fertility specialists can use imaging tests, like hysteroscopy and saline sonography, to assess the uterine cavity. Identified structural issues are corrected to reduce the chances of IVF failure and early miscarriage. Doctors assess the uterine lining thickness and check for conditions like fibroids and endometriosis. They may also recommend tests, such as BCL6, which helps reveal markers of endometriosis and inflamed uterine lining. If the test comes back positive, the abnormal endometrial cells may have to be removed before proceeding with embryo transfer.
Assess Egg and Sperm Quality
IVF treatment success depends on the quality of sperm, egg, and embryo used, as well as underlying reproductive health issues. Fertility specialists usually offer a comprehensive analysis to select suitable sperm and eggs for fertilization. Egg quality declines with age, and older eggs are more likely to harbor chromosomal abnormalities that increase the chances of failed IVF. Low sperm count, poor motility, DNA fragmentation, and abnormal shape can also lead to fertilization failure. These sperm often result in embryos that look healthy but feature genetic issues that increase the chances of failed implantation.
Fertility doctors must select the best quality egg and sperm to produce healthy embryos. They then assess embryos for chromosomal abnormalities and other flaws that prevent successful implantation. Abnormal numbers of chromosomes in the egg or sperm can impact the embryo’s ability to implant and progress. IVF clinics usually offer preimplantation genetic testing to detect abnormalities before embryo transfer.
Check for Possible Infections
Chronic infection of the uterine lining can compromise the implantation process and lead to early miscarriage. Before undergoing IVF treatment, doctors may recommend certain tests to check for markers of endometritis. Doctors will quickly address chronic bacterial infections that impact the uterine lining, which increases the chances of implantation. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat an infection before the embryo transfer. Fertility specialists also perform standard evaluations to check for urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted infections, and other uterine conditions. These evaluations help reveal underlying medical conditions that affect the implantation and development process. Conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and autoimmune disorders can also complicate the IVF process and lead to implantation failure if not quickly addressed.
Assess the IVF Process
Fertility doctors check if the levels of hormones, such as progesterone, are optimal for implantation. They also time embryo transfer to match the receptivity of the endometrium. Transferring embryos too early or too late can reduce the chances of implantation and cause failure. To optimize timing, doctors use endometrial receptivity analysis to determine the right time for implantation. They also provide pregnancy medication to increase the levels of progesterone and improve endometrial conditions.
IVF cycles may fail due to lab and technical factors, which depend on the expertise of the medical team handling the embryos. Laboratory protocol and equipment quality may impact embryo development. The culture media and lab environment also influence the success of fertilization and embryo growth. Select clinics with high standards and success rates to minimize the risk of failure resulting from lab protocols. Assessing the IVF process enables doctors to identify potential issues that could compromise any phase of the cycle.
Discover and Prevent Causes of IVF Failure
Failed IVF results from causes ranging from endometriosis and poor ovarian response to immune and blood clotting disorders, and more. Lifestyle factors, like smoking, drug use, and obesity, also impact your reproductive health and IVF success. Get a comprehensive assessment today to test for endometriosis, endometritis, and other causes of IVF failure.