After an unsuccessful IVF cycle: 14 things that may help

Take the time you need

The HFEA says it’s very common to feel a deep sense of bereavement when treatment doesn’t work, and to need time to come to terms with it. The NHS says to give yourself time to recover and make sure you have plenty of support. IVF Wales recognises that people often need time before a follow-up appointment, which is one reason it suggests about six weeks.

Sources: HFEA, NHS, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (IVF Wales)

Tell your clinic your result, so a follow-up can be arranged

Clinics ask you to let them know your result so they can arrange a review. There’s no national standard for when it happens or who you’ll see. Gateshead offers an appointment to discuss the cycle with a doctor, IVF Wales suggests about six weeks, and Epsom and St Helier books you in with a consultant.

Sources: Cambridge University Hospitals, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (IVF Wales), Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals

Only stop your medicines when your clinic tells you to

Some clinics ask you to stop certain medicines after a negative test, but do this only on your own clinic’s instruction. Cambridge asks you not to stop anything it prescribed without talking to the team first.

Sources: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, Cambridge University Hospitals

Ask: do you know why this cycle didn’t work?

The HFEA says to talk to your doctor about why treatment was unsuccessful. Often there’s no obvious reason. The most common is that embryos don’t implant. Other cycles stop earlier, for example because of how you responded to the medicines, or because eggs didn’t fertilise or embryos didn’t develop.

Source: HFEA

Ask them to talk you through the cycle

You can ask about each step: how you responded to the medicines, how many eggs were collected, fertilisation, and how the embryos developed. Ask whether anything would be done differently another time. The HFEA says your doctor may suggest a different treatment or discuss other options.

Ask: “Could I have a written summary of this cycle?”

Source: HFEA

Ask for an honest view of what more treatment could offer you

The HFEA suggests asking your doctor for an honest opinion on whether treatment may work for you, and talking through whether to try again. Other options can include a different treatment, donor eggs or sperm, or deciding not to continue, and you can take your time over any of them.

Ask: “What other options are available if this treatment doesn’t work?”

Sources: HFEA (1), HFEA (7)

If an add-on or extra test is suggested, ask for the evidence

After an unsuccessful cycle, people are sometimes offered add-ons. The HFEA says none of the commonly offered ones has been proven to increase the chance of pregnancy, and your clinic must discuss the evidence with you. The HFEA rates each add-on from green to red. For any extra test, ask what it would show and whether it would change the plan.

Sources: HFEA (1), HFEA (8)

Ask about any frozen embryos

If you have frozen embryos, ask when a frozen embryo transfer could happen and what storage costs. Your consent to storage has to be renewed every 10 years. Under NICE’s definition, transferring frozen embryos from the same egg collection is part of the same full cycle.

Sources: HFEA, NICE

If you’re NHS-funded, ask what funding is left

Ask whether you’re eligible for another funded cycle. NICE says earlier cycles count towards the NHS total, whether they were self-funded or NHS-funded. For people under 40, it recommends talking through the likelihood of further treatment working, and what it would involve, after 3 full cycles. Waits can be long: IVF Wales says a further funded cycle can take up to 6 months to be offered. Our NHS funding guide explains what to check.

Sources: NICE, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (IVF Wales)

Ask how long to wait before another cycle, if you want one

The HFEA says many experts suggest waiting a couple of months before trying again. Ask what your clinic advises for you.

Source: HFEA

You can see your records, change clinic or complain

You can ask for a copy of your records with a subject access request. It’s usually free, and organisations usually have one month to respond.

If you want to move to another clinic, the HFEA says it’s much easier between treatment cycles, and frozen embryos can be moved. If something went wrong, complain to the clinic first. You can then go to the HFEA, normally within six months, although it can’t deal with complaints about costs.

Sources: Information Commissioner’s Office, HFEA

Counselling should be offered to you

The HFEA’s Code of Practice says counselling should routinely be offered after unsuccessful outcomes, and it can continue after treatment if you ask. You can go alone or with a partner. NICE says counselling should come from someone who isn’t directly involved in your treatment. Some clinics charge, so ask.

If you and a partner see things differently about what to do next, the HFEA says talking to an impartial professional may help you think it through together. BICA, the British Infertility Counselling Association, lists private infertility counsellors.

Sources: HFEA (14), NICE, HFEA (1), BICA

Talk to people who understand

Fertility Action runs an online peer-support group called Life After Treatment, on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm. The Fertility Alliance runs groups including Moving On From Treatment and one for people living childless not by choice, and offers one-to-one support by call-back or email. Both are contacted by email.

Fertility Network UK, which some websites still list, has closed and no longer offers support.

Sources: Fertility Action, The Fertility Alliance, Fertility Network UK

If a pregnancy ended after your test

Miscarriage UK, formerly the Miscarriage Association, supports anyone affected by miscarriage, ectopic or molar pregnancy. Its support line, 0303 003 6464, is open 9am to 8pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9am to 4pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Outside those hours it points people to Samaritans.

Tommy’s Midwives’ Helpline, 0800 0147 800, is free and open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, for any type of pregnancy loss. It’s a non-urgent line.

Sources: Miscarriage UK, Tommy’s