A 32-year-old patient underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment and successfully conceived triplets. Unfortunately, a miscarriage occurred at the sixth month of pregnancy. The following year, at age 33, she underwent IVF again, resulting in a successful pregnancy and delivery of one child. Six months postpartum, she visited the clinic complaining of very light menstrual flow. Upon examination, it was discovered that her ovaries had failed, causing her to enter menopause prematurely. If she wishes to have more children, she would need to rely on egg donation. Generally, about 10 years before menopause, the quality of eggs begins to deteriorate, usually around the age of 37. However, some women with ovulatory dysfunction may experience a decline in egg quality as early as age 30. During the initial 2-3 years, there may still be opportunities for pregnancy. Therefore, infertile couples who wish to conceive should act early, as youth is an asset—the younger the age, the better the quality of eggs, and consequently, the higher the chances of successful pregnancy.
In another case, an infertile couple visited the clinic and it was found that the husband suffered from severe oligospermia. At the time, we recommended proceeding directly with IVF treatment. After six months of consideration, the couple finally accepted the doctor's advice. Unfortunately, on the day of egg retrieval, no sperm could be found in the husband’s semen sample. An emergency testicular biopsy was arranged, revealing only a few active sperm in the seminiferous tubules. Infertility was confirmed, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was performed simultaneously. Fortunately, the procedure was successful. If they had delayed seeking IVF treatment further, even a testicular biopsy might not have found any sperm.
It is important to pay attention to practical articles regarding infertility treatment, medications, and IVF. There are various reasons why IVF may fail, and understanding the potential side effects can help improve success rates.
Age is the biggest enemy for women: aging and abnormal eggs. A young couple needed IVF due to poor sperm quality in the husband. Surprisingly, the wife also had poor ovarian response, producing only 1-2 follicles after receiving ovulation-inducing injections. Despite three unsuccessful IVF attempts, a natural cycle follow-up revealed one follicle. Aware of the low chances of success, the patient insisted on proceeding with egg retrieval, refusing to miss any opportunity. In the end, she successfully conceived. This story emphasizes the importance of persistence and never giving up.
Proactive efforts and perseverance are key factors in overcoming infertility challenges.