In the modern world, many couples suffer from infertility. Most of them try to resort to the use of assisted reproductive technologies in general and in vitro fertilization in particular, and this is due to various reasons. Every woman who is preparing for the protocol or has begun its implementation is interested in what the IVF statistics are the first time, because on the way to the desire to become a mother she had to overcome various risks and fears.
In fertility clinics, doctors say that after the initial embryo transfer, it has a good chance of implanting in the uterine cavity. However, at the same time, those women who carry out the second or third protocol are more likely to become pregnant and give birth to a child. Let’s take a closer look at how successful it is to successfully complete IVF the first time and what can interfere with this.
General information
The very first experience of cultivation, fertilization and transfer of an embryo into the uterine cavity of a woman was at the end of the twentieth century. Unfortunately, the first IVF attempt did not work, and the pregnancy ended in spontaneous abortion and rejection of the fetus. Only in 1978 did doctors succeed in in vitro fertilization, which resulted in the birth of a healthy child.
Currently, throughout the world, the number of babies born after the implementation of assisted reproductive technologies reaches 5 million, and the number of children increases every year. Based on this, we can say that IVF statistics from the first attempt tend to improve.
When wondering why IVF does not work the first time, the reasons for the inability to conceive a child naturally must be clarified first. Of course, the main factor that negatively affects the possibility of natural fertilization is a low level of fertility, but since we are initially talking about statistical data, they should be given more attention.
Changes in the endometrium
In order for successful implantation to occur, and then the development of the embryo, the endometrium must be mature, of the required thickness and with a structure that meets the norms. It is generally accepted that before implantation its thickness should be at least 7 millimeters. Typically, this parameter is determined by ultrasound before the start of hormonal stimulation, so that the doctor has the opportunity to prescribe additional drugs that do not interfere with the maturation of the follicles, but at the same time help increase the thickness of the endometrium.
Data
If you study the opinions expressed by couples who have used in vitro fertilization, you can find reviews from the first time. IVF was still successful in a certain number of families from this attempt.
But all this should be combined into a certain collective aspect, which is statistics as a whole. Therefore, you should not clearly trust this data, because in each specific case the doctor will not be able to guarantee whether the protocol will be successful or not.
Currently, scientists in the field of reproductive medicine present the following IVF percentage from the first pregnancy, based on the age of the expectant mother:
- Successful IVF the first time in patients under 29 years of age is observed in 83% of cases;
- For women aged 30 to 34 years, the chance of pregnancy drops to 61%;
- For expectant mothers who are 35-39 years old, with IVF, the probability of pregnancy the first time is only 34%;
- When implementing the protocol for women over 40 years of age, pregnancy occurs in only 27%, and with the use of donor oocytes, the chances increase to 71%.
It is very important to understand that every patient has a good chance of becoming pregnant the first time; IVF has recently developed quite well in terms of increasing the experience of doctors in this area. However, the procedure does not guarantee that after implantation of the embryo, the woman will be able to carry the fetus to term and give birth to a child.
IVF statistics by woman's age
If we take all the successful protocols, combine them into a single one and define it as 100%, then delivery occurs in only 75-80% of women. In most cases, a positive IVF result from the first time is observed in only 35-40% of patients.
But even here the statistics vary greatly, depending on the professionalism of the doctor, the status of the clinic, the country where the procedure is performed and the individual characteristics of the woman. We can say that successful IVF on the first attempt has a percentage of 15 to 60. If we consider a completely healthy couple who, for the sake of the test, will conceive through in vitro fertilization, then even in this case the success of the procedure will not be 100%.
Reasons for failure
Many people are certainly interested in why IVF doesn’t work out the first time. The reasons for each infertile couple are completely different, but doctors identify a number of the most common factors that do not allow pregnancy to occur after a single protocol, among them:
- How long has the couple been treated for infertility?
- Which factor predominates (male or female);
- Low level of quality of seminal fluid of the sexual partner;
- Ovulatory reserve (the older a woman is, the fewer eggs are produced in her body, accordingly, the likelihood of IVF the first time decreases);
- Practical experience of a fertility specialist (if a specialist rarely performs such a procedure, then his percentage of successful IVF the first time is much lower);
- A woman’s failure to comply with medical recommendations in the first protocol is also the reason why IVF does not work out the first time.
It cannot be said unequivocally that any given reason comes first for failure. All of them equally reduce the likelihood of a fertilized egg attaching to the uterine cavity.
Causes of unsuccessful fertilization
Many couples also wonder if IVF did not work out the first time, what to do next. Doctors advise, if it is impossible to cure infertility, to carry out several more in vitro fertilization protocols. It is important to understand that subsequent participation in the program significantly increases the chances of pregnancy, while if there are more than five protocols, then, on the contrary, they decrease.
The likelihood of successful IVF the first time is directly related to the following factors:
- What lifestyle does the woman and her sexual partner lead?
- Do future parents have bad habits (nicotine addiction, alcoholism, drug addiction, substance abuse? This is definitely why IVF didn’t work out the first time);
- The presence of concomitant diseases that were not previously diagnosed by doctors;
- Number of embryos transferred (successful IVF on the first attempt is possible if 2 or more embryos are transferred);
- Level of quality and viability of the resulting embryos;
- Was there any injury during embryo transfer?
Doctors also note that the point related to the level of quality of the embryos themselves depends on other reasons (the woman’s age, how difficult the transfer was, etc.).
Chances
Doctors recommend that couples who have been unable to conceive a child naturally for a year should go to an appointment with a urologist and gynecologist as soon as possible. The age of the expectant mother directly affects the health of the child. Thus, experts note that regardless of the method of conception, women after 40 years of age are more likely to give birth to children with Down syndrome.
Successful IVF the first time, doctors' reviews confirm this, does not happen as rarely as it might seem at first glance. This is achieved thanks to the ability of doctors to use modern medical instruments and procedures, for example, preimplantation diagnosis of the embryo, laser hatching, ICSI technique, and cultivation of the embryo until it becomes a blastocyst.
Studying reviews of IVF from the first attempt, you can notice that when using donor sperm or oocytes, the likelihood of a successful pregnancy and subsequent childbirth increases significantly.
Women who have only one functioning ovary can also expect a successful in vitro fertilization protocol. This is also made possible by a wide range of stimulating and supportive medications.
Those patients who succeeded in IVF the first time claim that they intuitively understood that the protocol would be successful. An important role in this is played not only by compliance with medical recommendations, but also by the positive mood of the expectant mother, maintaining a correct lifestyle and avoiding stressful situations as much as possible.
Preparation rules
Almost every expectant mother who decides to undergo in vitro fertilization thinks about how to prepare for IVF so that it works the first time. Often doctors, in particular the reproductive specialist who will implement the protocol, answer this topic quite clearly.
First of all, you should provide your doctor with as much detailed information as possible regarding your history of infertility. It is necessary to prepare the results of tests, ultrasound examinations and conclusions of specialists who examined the patient earlier.
If a reproductive specialist asks a question regarding your health status or treatment methods, you need to give truthful answers, because the likelihood of pregnancy and subsequent childbirth directly depends on this. Immediately before the procedure, you need to find out from your doctor what time and what vitamins you should take to prepare your body.
The most important step is to cure all concomitant pathologies, because they significantly reduce the likelihood of success in the first IVF protocol. The nutrition of the expectant mother must be correct. Maximum enrichment of the diet with fresh vegetables, fruits, and healthy foods is the key to success.
How to get pregnant with IVF the first time?
In order for an IVF attempt to be successful for a woman planning a pregnancy, you need to adhere to the following tips:
- The interval between IVF attempts should be at least two months. The exact timing is discussed with the doctor, and the woman’s health condition is taken into account. A woman needs two months so that her body can recover and gain strength. At this time, doctors are trying to identify the reasons for the failure;
- Sometimes a woman may be prescribed medications that stimulate the ovaries. This will increase the efficiency of in vitro fertilization;
- Consultation and conversation with a psychologist may also be helpful. They can help identify psychological pressures and the reasons why a woman is afraid of something from within and cannot get pregnant;
- It is necessary to increase the consumption of foods containing zinc;
- You should eat more protein foods, peanuts and fresh pineapples.
It is also worth switching to a healthier diet and giving up caffeine.
Reviews
Couples who have had their first unsuccessful IVF leave different reviews about the procedure, as well as about the doctors themselves. Some say that pregnancy did not occur due to poor preparation; others attribute the lack of pregnancy to the lack of experience of the reproductive specialist.
Be that as it may, that part of the families who have already been lucky enough to become parents after unsuccessful in vitro fertilization protocols advise other couples to simply not give up and always go into the protocol with a positive mood, while carefully choosing a clinic, as well as a doctor.
Menstrual cycle and pregnancy
Is it possible to get pregnant naturally after an unsuccessful attempt?
Yes it is possible. After a negative hCG test result is obtained, the woman stops taking hormonal medications.
When does your period start?
Usually menstruation occurs in the first 10 days after hormone withdrawal. If spotting appears literally in the first days after IVF, you should immediately consult a doctor. This may be a sign of miscarriage or ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.
A delay in menstruation after unsuccessful IVF may be caused by a developed disease. To find out the reasons, you should consult a doctor and do an ultrasound.
It happens that after an unsuccessful attempt, your chest hurts. This is fine. This is how the body reacts to significant hormonal changes that occur during this period. After the cycle is restored, such symptoms should disappear.
The first menstruation can be heavy and long (up to 10 days), sometimes moderate pain occurs. Scanty periods during this period are often a sign of endometrial pathology or hormonal imbalance. Ovulation occurs 12-14 days after the start of menstruation, sometimes later. At this time, natural pregnancy may occur. If this does not happen, subsequent menstrual bleeding should be normal for the patient.
In about a third of cases, a natural pregnancy occurs after IVF failure. It is associated with the diagnosis and treatment of possible diseases of the couple, improvement of hormonal levels, and better preparation of the endometrium. In this case, approximately 3-4 weeks after the first menstruation, initial symptoms appear - nausea, poor health, and sometimes lower abdomen pain. If such pain becomes stronger and is accompanied by bleeding from the vagina, you should immediately consult a doctor. Such symptoms may be a sign of early miscarriage. Abdominal pain may occur earlier than the specified period. They also require consultation with a gynecologist or reproductive specialist to rule out ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.
Physiological pregnancy after unsuccessful IVF develops normally. A woman should be regularly monitored by a doctor. She can give birth naturally.
