IVF or In vitro fertilization is a popular fertility treatment procedure for couples struggling to have a child. But it is a process that entails a lot of emotional, physical, and financial toll on the patients.

One of the most significant challenges that IVF patients face is embryo failure. It is not uncommon for couples going through IVF to produce multiple embryos, but only a few of them turn out viable after several staged transitions. This article explores the mystery of why many IVF embryos fail.

What Is IVF?

IVF is a fertility treatment that involves artificially inducing pregnancy.

The process entails stimulating a woman’s ovaries to produce eggs, retrieving the eggs and fertilizing them with the partner’s or a donor’s sperms in a laboratory dish.

After fertilization, the resulting embryos are closely monitored, with the healthiest one or two transferred into the woman’s uterus.

This process offers couples struggling with infertility a chance to conceive, but it is not a guaranteed method, with many IVF treatments failing to result in a pregnancy.

Understanding Embryo Failure in IVF

Embryo failure is a common occurrence in IVF, with up to two-thirds of IVF treatments failing to produce a viable pregnancy. One of the main reasons why this occurs is chromosomal abnormalities or aneuploidies in the embryos.

Aneuploidies occur when an embryo develops an abnormal number of chromosomes, which affects their development and viability.

Research indicates that most human embryos produced in IVF have some chromosomal abnormalities and that these abnormalities increase with maternal age.

For example, women over 35 years have a significantly higher risk of producing aneuploid embryos than younger women.

Another reason why IVF embryos fail is poor-quality eggs or sperm. Without healthy eggs and sperms, it is challenging to produce viable embryos that can lead to a successful pregnancy.

Poor quality eggs and sperm can also result from various factors, including age, lifestyle, and underlying medical conditions, among others.

The Role of Genetics in Embryo Failure

Genetics plays a significant role in IVF embryo failure. Chromosomal abnormalities resulting from alterations in the genes can affect the embryo’s development and prevent implantation.

For example, women with a genetic disorder known as Turner syndrome, which affects the development of ovaries, have a higher risk of producing aneuploid embryos.

Additionally, couples who have a history of genetic disorders or chromosomal abnormalities are at a higher risk of producing embryos that fail to develop or implant correctly.

For these couples, IVF procedures that incorporate preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) can help identify embryos with chromosomal irregularities and increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.

Other Factors Contributing to IVF Embryo Failure

Aside from genetics and chromosomal abnormalities, other factors can contribute to IVF embryo failure. These include:.

Embryo implantation issues:

After an embryo is transferred into the uterus, it needs to implant into the uterine lining for a successful pregnancy.

Issues like a thin or abnormal uterine lining, uterine fibroids, or endometriosis can affect implantation and lead to embryo failure.

Problems with the laboratory environment:

The lab environment plays a vital role in the success of IVF treatments. Any variations, such as temperature, humidity, or pH balance, can affect the embryos’ quality and viability.

The quality of equipment, culture medium, and the skills and expertise of the lab technicians can also impact the IVF embryo’s success rate.

Hormonal imbalances:

The normal hormonal interactions between the ovary, uterus, and hypothalamus are vital to healthy embryo development.

Any hormonal imbalance, such as inadequate ovarian stimulation, endocrine disorders, or thyroid dysfunction, can affect the embryo’s viability.

Lifestyle factors:

Several lifestyle factors can impact embryo quality and viability, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and exposure to environmental toxins.

These factors can affect egg and sperm quality, leading to chromosomal abnormalities and embryo failure.

Improving IVF Success Rates: What Can Patients Do?

While there is no guaranteed way of preventing IVF embryo failure, there are steps that patients can take to increase their chances of success. These include:.

Choosing a reputable fertility center:

The success rate of IVF treatments varies depending on the fertility center. It is essential to research and select a reputable center with experienced medical staff and a proven track record of successful IVF treatments.

Optimizing health before IVF treatments:

Eating a healthy diet, exercising, quitting smoking, and reducing stress can improve egg and sperm quality, increasing the chances of producing viable embryos.

Patients can also consider preconception genetic testing to determine any genetic disorders that can affect the embryo’s viability.

Incorporating PGT into IVF:

Preimplantation genetic testing can help identify embryos with chromosomal abnormalities, increasing the chances of a successful pregnancy. PGT can also screen for genetic disorders in couples with a history of such conditions.

Conclusion

IVF is a potentially successful option for couples struggling with infertility. However, IVF embryo failure is not uncommon, and it can be a challenging and emotional experience for patients.

Understanding the factors contributing to embryo failure, compiling with the best practices of infertility treatments, and PGT can improve the embryo’s possible quality and the chance of a successful pregnancy.