IVF Treatment for Couples with Multiple Pregnancy Failure

Multiple Pregnancy Failure, or MPF, is an unfortunate life situation where couples face repeated pregnancy failure. It occurs repeatedly, even after trying various methods to achieve pregnancy. Methods such as in vitro fertilisation or natural conception. 

Causes of Multiple Pregnancy Failure (MPF)

The causes of Multiple pregnancy failure can vary from person to person, but below are some of the common causes of MPF:

• Genetic Factors: Genetic abnormalities in either partner can lead to recurrent pregnancy loss.
• Chromosomal Abnormalities: Abnormalities in the chromosomes of either the egg or sperm can result in unsuccessful pregnancies.
• Hormonal Imbalances: Irregularities in hormone levels, such as progesterone or thyroid hormones, can affect the ability to sustain a pregnancy.
• Uterine Abnormalities: Structural issues with the uterus, such as fibroids or spetum, can hinder implantation or proper development of the embryo. 
• Immune System Disorder: Here, the immune system attacks the developing embryo by mistake or the uterine lining, which leads to recurrent miscarriage.
• Lifestyle Changes: Lifestyle changes can also lead to miscarriage. Changes such as smoking, consuming alcohol, drug abuse, obesity, and poor nutrition can increase the risk of pregnancy failure.
• Age: Age can also become a factor that is responsible for MPF. Increasing age, especially in women over 35, increases the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in eggs or sperm leading to pregnancy failure.
• Infection: Infections such as sexually transmitted infections or uterine infections can increase the risk of miscarriage.

 

Exploring IVF as a Solution

1. Introduction to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

In Vitro Fertilization is a process of getting pregnant through a lab process. In this procedure, the egg is retrieved from the woman’s ovaries and fertilized with the sperm taken out from her partner’s body. Both the egg and sperm are fused in a lab dish. After the fertilization is successful and embryos are formed, the fertilized egg is transferred back to the woman’s uterus to establish a successful pregnancy. 

IVF is a type of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) used to help people conceive a baby when they are facing difficulty in getting pregnant naturally.

2. Suitability Assessment for IVF

In the suitability assessment of IVF, there is an evaluation done to ensure whether you are perfectly fit for the IVF procedure or not.  There are various factors on which the evaluation is done, such as age, medical history, fertility test results, and previous treatment outcomes. 

This assessment salo includes some diagnostic tests and discussions with the IVF doctors in Lucknow to determine the chances of successful IVF treatment and the potential risk involved.

Preparing for IVF Treatment

1. Initial Consultation with a Fertility Specialist

Before moving forward with the main IVF procedure, you need to have a proper consultation with the best IVF center in Lucknow to discuss and understand all the procedures, success rates, and potential risks. In the discussion, you also need to be open about your medical history, fertility concerns, and treatment options you would like to choose. 

After the discussion, the trained specialist will review your medical report and will also perform some physical examination.

2. Diagnostic Test and Evaluation

In this procedure, a proper diagnostic test will be conducted to identify underlying factors contributing to infertility and to determine the most suitable treatment method for the couple. 

The test may include a blood test, ultrasound, and other tests as per the doctor and the situation’s demand. In many cases, semen analysis is also conducted to check the sperm quality. 

3. Lifestyle Changes 

Before you undergo the IVF procedure you need to make some lifestyle changes a week before the procedure to increase the success rate of IVF. The habits may include eating a proper diet rich in iron, protein, calcium, and nutrients. Drinking plenty of water, exercising daily, and keeping your stress level 0.

Navigating the IVF process

1.  Stages of IVF 

• Ovulation Stimulation: Here, the woman takes medications to stimulate her ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of just one;
• Egg Retrieval: Once the eggs are ready, they are collected from the woman’s ovaries using a small needle under ultrasound guidance. This procedure is usually done under sedation;
• Fertilization and Embryo Development: The collected eggs are then combined with sperm from the partner or a donor in a laboratory dish, where they are left to fertilize; If the fertilization is successful, the embryo starts to develop over the next few days.
• Embryo Transfer: After a few days of development, one or more embryos are transferred into the woman’s uterus through the cervix using a thin tube. Any extra embryos can be frozen for future use.
• Pregnancy Test: As two weeks pass after the embryo transfer, a pregnancy test is done to make sure if the IVF procedure was successful or not.

2. Monitoring progress and Adjustments

Throughout the IVF process, the woman’s response to medication and the development of eggs or embryos are closely monitored via blood tests and ultrasound. Through these monitoring processes, treatment plans are then planned and adjusted as the circumstances allow.

3. Handling emotional and Psychological Strain

It is very difficult for the female as well as the partner to stay mentally stable in these kinds of situations. The journey of IVF is full of challenges and building expectations for something good. Here, the couple needs to get help from a counsellor, family, and friends to stay emotionally strong so that the emotional stress does not affect the condition or the process of IVF. 

Managing Risk and Complications

1. Potential Risks Associated with IVF

• Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS): Overstimulation of the ovaries can lead to abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, etc.
• Multiple pregnancies: IVF increases the chance of multiple pregnancies because to increase the chance of pregnancies multiple embryos are transferred which sometimes leads to twin pregnancies or multiple pregnancies. 
• Ectopic Pregnancy: In this situation, the embryo implants outside the uterus, the risk of ectopic pregnancy is slightly higher in IVF 

2. Strategies for Minimizing Risk

• Individualized Treatment Plans: Tailoring treatment protocols to each patient’s needs can help minimize the risk of complications such as OHSS. 
• Single Embryo Transfer (SET): Transferring only one embryo during IVF decreases the chance of multiple pregnancies while maintaining a high success rate of getting pregnant.
• Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT): To reduce the risk of miscarriage and implantation failure procedure called PGT is followed where screening of embryos is done to check if there are any genetic abnormalities or not.
• Counseling and Support: Emotionally supporting the couples and counselling them occasionally can help them cope with stress and emotional instability.

 

Coping with Treatment Failures

1. Understanding and Accepting Failed IVF Cycles

Couples need to understand that IVF does increase the chances of making the female pregnant and allowing you to become a parent, but it does not guarantee the same. Not all IVF cycles result in pregnancy and recognizing failure is part of the process.

2. Evaluating Next Steps and Alteration

After the failure of the IVF cycle, it is essential to reassess treatment options and consider alternatives such as trying once again with a modified approach, exploring other reproductive technologies, or considering options like adoption or surrogacy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is very hard to accept the repetitive miscarriages and multiple pregnancy failures, it not only affects you physically but emotionally as well. But, there is always a hope you can have in your hearts. With the help of IVF and modified technologies, you can have faith in becoming parents of your baby.