Just like many, I relied on IVF, a reproduction procedure that takes place in a fertility clinic. It was supposedly due to the workload that I decided to cryopreserve my eggs until a later date in the future when I could carry my children to term. I was completely fertile, just that the desire for self-development overpowered me. Several celebrity characters above the age of 40 with children also encouraged me to opt for IVF since I could effectively plan for my family’s future.

I decided to head to my gynae who encouraged me to freeze my eggs and all went well. A total of 15 was obtained.

10 years down the road, I and my partner are ready to have children and therefore we head to the fertility centre to embark on another chapter in our relationship. I certainly knew that the entire IVF procedure would be a walkover since I had already frozen my eggs that only required to be thawed.

Surprisingly, yet not puzzling, my fertility doctor requested me to undergo ovarian stimulation again for additional eggs. Basically to increase my IVF success chances. During the first treatment months, hormones were injected into my body to bring about follicle development. At last, 10 eggs were harvested during a laparoscopic surgery and added to the frozen eggs.

Dealing With the IVF facts

The eggs were joined with my husband’s sperms in a petri dish and out of the 25 eggs we had, only 19 eggs managed to accept the sperm (fertilization). That meant that we had 19 embryos that were still being monitored for cell division to occur. After a week, my doctor calls only to inform us that the embryos failed to develop any further.

It’s quite perplexing when the fertility doctor suddenly informs you about this kind of news, but hey, hundreds of women/couples have had to deal with it. According to a recent study in the USA, out of the 231,936 IVF treatment cycles performed in 2015, only 60,778 resulted in deliveries. What happened to the others? Miscarriage, implantation failure, failed fertilization, mistakes, among others. Such cases aren’t dissimilar when it comes to any IVF Centre in India as the success rate definitely competes with the failure rate.

Another study conducted in 2014, indicated various emotional conditions that couples, especially women have to bear in case of failed IVF cycles. It was found that failed IVF cycles elevated both anxiety and depression levels similar to patients suffering from cancer or a heart disease. It is completely devastating in a majority of couples whose continuity is directly or indirectly compromised.

In a follow up that was conducted with couples, researchers found that women who failed to produce a child out of their IVF treatment cycles were three times more likely to have discontinued their relationship with their partners in the following years.

Infertile couples have to deal with psychological pressure, emotional strain, uncertainties, stigma, and fear during their married life. Decisions to undergo a number of IVF treatment cycles are many in infertile couples as options like adoption and surrogacy remain on hold.