Why patients dropout after a failed IVF cycle

In vitro Fertilization is one of the most complicated treatment options for infertile couples. Infertile couples that choose to undergo IVF know that it is their last chance at having their own baby. All their hopes ride on the procedure’s outcome. Many patients undergoing IVF have unrealistic expectations about the results. When their first cycle of IVF fails, many women then stop further treatment, although they know that they are denying themselves the possibility of success by doing so.

The number of dropouts after the first IVF cycle fails is very high. These women stop any further trials for having a baby. Various factors play a role in this decision. In a practical sense, when a couple decides to undergo a particular treatment, they would normally be expected to continue it until the desired results are achieved. However, instead of persisting with further attempts, many couples back off after the first cycle failure. They do not want to go in for another cycle – and some even start thinking of surrogacy.

It is true that patients get a major financial setback when the first cycle of IVF fails to deliver results. IVF is an expensive treatment. Every cycle involves various costly medications and procedures. Not all the patients can afford to repeat the expenditure in the second cycle. In such cases they are forced to simply abandon their hope of doing IVF and they then try to find out other cheaper options, which may not be as effective.

Sometimes the mental stress of IVF becomes too much for the patient to handle. They are emotionally exhausted by the ups and downs before, during and after the in vitro fertilization cycle. The prospect of facing the same emotional rollercoaster ride does not appeal to them. An unprepared patient cannot cope up with the stress of failure, and gives up.

In a few cases, the media and the doctors are responsible for demoralizing the patient. The media highlights only the positive aspects of IVF and presents a host of success stories. They do not explain the failure rates and thus paint an incomplete picture in front of the patient. Some doctors make the same mistake. They conduct lengthy discussions about the success rates of IVF and seem to ignore the chances of failure. All this contributes to the patient having false beliefs about the outcome of the outcome. When the cycle fails, they are not able to handle it well, and buckle under the pressure.

These problems can be overcome by empowering the patient with the correct knowledge of IVF, and good counseling can make a world of a difference!

IVF is not a one time hit or miss treatment, and patients need to be prepared for the fact that they may have to undergo more than one cycle to achieve a pregnancy.