• Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice
  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice
24/7 Health News
No Result
View All Result
Home Article

When IVF fails it can be devastating – so why do clinics offer so little in the way of support?

September 7, 2023
in Article
The orgasm gap and why women climax less than men

Four in every ten people who start IVF treatment in the UK end it without having their child, according to data from the UK fertility regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

Fertility clinics’ websites are prone to promoting their success rates or enthusing about the latest technology that will revolutionise treatment. But research has found these websites often report on the clinic’s pregnancy or live birth rates without relevant information on how these figures were calculated, or how many patients were involved.

It has also been shown that some clinics make claims about treatment benefits without including supporting evidence.

But what is less talked about is the effect that unsuccessful treatment has on patients.


This article is part of Women’s Health Matters, a series about the health and wellbeing of women and girls around the world. From menopause to miscarriage, pleasure to pain the articles in this series will delve into the full spectrum of women’s health issues to provide valuable information, insights and resources for women of all ages.

You may be interested in:

Five old contraception methods that show why the pill was a medical breakthrough

The orgasm gap and why women climax less than men

Science experiments traditionally only used male mice – here’s why that’s a problem for women’s health


The reality of failed IVF

Ending treatment unsuccessfully can be devastating for patients, throwing them into deep sadness, grief and loss. Those who go through this experience lose their sense of purpose and struggle to make sense of a new reality that denies a so desired family and parenting role.

Patients talk about feeling isolated from the “fertile world” and alone in their grief, with its constant pain making it hard to be with friends who have children. Indeed, the end of unsuccessful treatment is such a challenging experience that it takes on average two years for patients to come to terms with their loss, recover their sense of balance and renew their hope for the future.

Research shows that mental health and wellbeing are significantly impaired during this process and that around one in ten people never fully recover.

Going through a failed IVF cycle can be tough on couples.
pexels/alex green, CC BY

Research has also found that many of these patients that are unsuccessful in their treatments say they feel abandoned by their fertility clinics when they most need support – which can lead them to become angry and frustrated. Indeed, as it currently stands there aren’t any support interventions available to infertile patients, that are tailored to support them when treatment ends unsuccessfully.

The lack of evidence-based support for parents in this position is so striking that it prompted me and my colleagues to develop MyJourney, a free self-guided app that provides step-by-step support to ease the acceptance of an unfulfilled wish for children. Our research shows that using MyJourney is linked to improvements in wellbeing within ten weeks – and that these improvements seem to last for at least six months.

Support and care

I believe that clinics need to do more to forewarn patients of the reality of IVF failure. Not only would this mean people go into the process properly informed, but it would also offer patients the opportunity to discuss and prepare for grief and sadness if it does happen.

Fertility staff also need to give patients a realistic view of treatment that does not soften its well-known challenges. Patients want to know what to expect and how to prepare for it. They want to have the “bigger picture” view of what the treatment entails so they can make informed decisions. Patients agree these are difficult conversations to have but the research shows that most think the pros outweigh the cons.

Essentially the fertility industry needs to provide the best care for those who take a chance on IVF. And all patients should be able to access support during and after treatment, irrespective of its outcome.

The Conversation

Dr Gameiro works for Cardiff University. She reports consultancy fees from TMRW Life Sciences
and Ferring Pharmaceuticals A/S, speaker fees from Access Fertility, SONA-Pharm LLC, Meridiano Congress International
and Gedeon Richter, grants from Merck Serono Ltd, an affiliate of Merck KgaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

ShareTweetSharePin
Next Post
Polycystic ovary syndrome: losing weight can help but many sufferers are vulnerable to bad advice on social media

Polycystic ovary syndrome: losing weight can help but many sufferers are vulnerable to bad advice on social media

Most Read

What causes stuttering? A speech pathology researcher explains the science and the misconceptions around this speech disorder

What causes stuttering? A speech pathology researcher explains the science and the misconceptions around this speech disorder

December 15, 2022
morning back pain

Morning Again Ache Trigger Is Not the Mattress

October 11, 2021

Why Circadian Rhythms Matter for Your Health

July 30, 2024
lower back pain relief exercises

5 decrease again ache aid workouts

October 11, 2021

4 steps to building a healthier relationship with your phone

January 28, 2025
3 years after legalization, we have shockingly little information about how it changed cannabis use and health harms

3 years after legalization, we have shockingly little information about how it changed cannabis use and health harms

October 15, 2021
Nasal vaccines promise to stop the COVID-19 virus before it gets to the lungs – an immunologist explains how they work

Nasal vaccines promise to stop the COVID-19 virus before it gets to the lungs – an immunologist explains how they work

December 14, 2022
bleeding in gum

When The Bleeding in gum Is Severe ?

October 11, 2021
Good Night Sleep

6 Causes of Good Evening Sleep

October 11, 2021
Kick up your heels – ballroom dancing offers benefits to the aging brain and could help stave off dementia

Kick up your heels – ballroom dancing offers benefits to the aging brain and could help stave off dementia

January 3, 2023
Biden is getting prostate cancer treatment, but that’s not the best choice for all men − a cancer researcher describes how she helped her father decide

Biden is getting prostate cancer treatment, but that’s not the best choice for all men − a cancer researcher describes how she helped her father decide

May 20, 2025
Ten small changes you can make today to prevent weight gain

Ten small changes you can make today to prevent weight gain

October 12, 2021

COVID vaccines: how one can pace up rollout in poorer international locations

October 5, 2021

This Simple Hygiene Habit Could Cut Your Risk of Stroke, New Research Reveals

February 1, 2025

Multiple sclerosis: the link with earlier infection just got stronger – new study

October 12, 2021
Support and collaboration with health-care providers can help people make health decisions

Support and collaboration with health-care providers can help people make health decisions

December 16, 2021
Greece to make COVID vaccines mandatory for over-60s, but do vaccine mandates work?

Greece to make COVID vaccines mandatory for over-60s, but do vaccine mandates work?

December 1, 2021
Five ways to avoid pain and injury when starting a new exercise regime

Five ways to avoid pain and injury when starting a new exercise regime

December 30, 2022
woman covered with white blanket

Exploring the Impact of Sleep Patterns on Mental Health

August 4, 2024

Maximize Your Performance – Sync with Your Circadian Rhythms

August 9, 2024
Why are some people faster than others? 2 exercise scientists explain the secrets of running speed

Why are some people faster than others? 2 exercise scientists explain the secrets of running speed

April 29, 2024
Backlash to transgender health care isn’t new − but the faulty science used to justify it has changed to meet the times

Backlash to transgender health care isn’t new − but the faulty science used to justify it has changed to meet the times

January 30, 2024
News of war can impact your mental health — here’s how to cope

Binge-eating disorder is more common than many realise, yet it’s rarely discussed – here’s what you need to know

December 2, 2022
As viral infections skyrocket, masks are still a tried-and-true way to help keep yourself and others safe

As viral infections skyrocket, masks are still a tried-and-true way to help keep yourself and others safe

December 14, 2022
GPs don’t give useful weight-loss advice – new study

GPs don’t give useful weight-loss advice – new study

December 16, 2022
Nutrition advice is rife with misinformation − a medical education specialist explains how to tell valid health information from pseudoscience

Nutrition advice is rife with misinformation − a medical education specialist explains how to tell valid health information from pseudoscience

January 28, 2025
FDA limits access to COVID-19 vaccine to older adults and other high-risk groups – a public health expert explains the new rules

FDA limits access to COVID-19 vaccine to older adults and other high-risk groups – a public health expert explains the new rules

May 21, 2025
Four ways to avoid gaining weight over the festive period – but also why you shouldn’t fret about it too much

Four ways to avoid gaining weight over the festive period – but also why you shouldn’t fret about it too much

December 22, 2022
Nurses’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination for their children are highly influenced by partisanship, a new study finds

Nurses’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination for their children are highly influenced by partisanship, a new study finds

December 2, 2022
How hot is too hot for the human body? Our lab found heat + humidity gets dangerous faster than many people realize

How hot is too hot for the human body? Our lab found heat + humidity gets dangerous faster than many people realize

July 6, 2022
  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer

© 2020 DAILY HEALTH NEWS

  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice

© 2020 DAILY HEALTH NEWS