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Treatments

Implantation failure

There are a few main reasons for IVF failure or recurrent implantation failure. Here is a bit about the potential therapies to help.

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There is support for several treatment options for women with “recurrent implantation failure” (defined as two or more failed embryo transfers in IVF/ICSI treatment cycles).

Listed below are options we can talk about in a follow-up appointment in the upsetting event of a failed implantation or miscarriage.

Maternal blood tests

  • Clotting (thrombophilia) screen – Small clots in the blood have been identified as a possible cause for pregnancies failing to progress. In some cases, this can be treated with aspirin or heparin injections to thin the blood.

  • Immune screen – Increased levels of uterine natural killer cells (white cells) and autoantibodies (antibodies attacking specific organs) have also been suggested as a cause for the repeated failure of cycles. The use of steroids and other drugs to suppress the immune system and to help a pregnancy develop are controversial as some of the drugs used in these treatments have side effects for both a mother and her developing baby. It’s important to understand these risks before deciding with your doctor whether testing or treatment is recommended.

Endometrial tests

  • Hysteroscopy or endometrial scratch – We may suggest a hysteroscopy (passing a flexible telescope into the womb under general anaesthetic) if we suspect scar tissue formation or the presence of a fibroid or polyp inside the womb which needs to be removed. There is some evidence that this procedure itself, or performing an endometrial scratch, can increase implantation rates.

Paternal factors

  • Sperm DNA fragmentation – Assessing the degree of damage to sperm DNA can help identify those couples that would benefit from ICSI treatment.

Embryo factors

  • Genetic screening – We can use genetic screening to learn more about embryos before they are implanted, which helps us select the best embryos most likely to implant.

  • Embryoscope™ (Time-lapse imaging) – Recording information by time-lapse photography allows us to assess more subtle changes seen during embryo development and identify the best embryos for transfer.

We offer these services in:

  • TFP Nurture Fertility

    TFP Nurture Fertility

    NG10 5QG Nottingham

    +44 0115 828 0246

  • TFP Simply Fertility

    TFP Simply Fertility

    CM2 8HN Chelmsford

    01245 371849

  • TFP Thames Valley Fertility

    TFP Thames Valley Fertility

    SL6 4BY Maidenhead

    01628 702632

  • TFP Boston Place Fertility

    TFP Boston Place Fertility

    NW1 6ER London

    0203 131 2152

  • TFP Wessex Fertility

    TFP Wessex Fertility

    SO30 2UN Southampton

    0203 1318630

  • TFP Oxford Fertility

    TFP Oxford Fertility

    OX4 2HW Oxford

    01865 224819

  • TFP Belfast Fertility

    TFP Belfast Fertility

    BT3 9JQ Belfast

    028 9009 7315

  • TFP GCRM Fertility

    TFP GCRM Fertility

    G51 4FD Glasgow

    0141 413 0715

  • TFP 92 Harley Street

    TFP 92 Harley Street

    W1G 7HU London

    0207 160 6379

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