How many attempts is it advisable to make in assisted reproduction?

One of the most frequent doubts in assisted reproduction is how many treatments to perform, since success is not always achieved in the first attempt. The most advisable thing to do is to make a personalised assessment and, depending on each case and the type of treatment involved (artificial insemination, in vitro fertilisation [IVF], ovodonation...), make one number of attempts or another.

To determine when to stop or change your strategy, you must take into account the likelihood of pregnancy, stress, price, etc. In the case of Social Security, there are a limited number of treatments available per patient.

Why are attempts limited?

In assisted reproduction treatments, we understand as attempts the number of times a couple undergoes any of the techniques that are intended to help achieve a pregnancy.

Although there is no legal limitation on the number of attempts that can be made, there are a number of recommendations when deciding whether to continue treatment or change reproductive strategy.

These recommendations are based on the expected cumulative success rate of the treatments performed and the clinical particularities of each individual case. The decision should be made on the basis of the expected probability of pregnancy with a particular treatment.

When deciding whether further attempts should be made, it is essential to evaluate the results obtained in the previous cycles.

The aim of limiting the number of attempts is to avoid useless treatments when there is no chance of achieving reproductive success, as each attempt is emotionally exhausting for patients and involves a series of risks, as well as a significant financial outlay in most cases.

Artificial insemination

Artificial insemination (AI) consists of depositing in the uterus a small amount of semen that has been previously capacitated in the laboratory. Sperm capacitation is a process that allows the selection of spermatozoa with better motility. These are the ones that will be introduced into the woman's body at the time of ovulation.

AI can be performed with partner or donor sperm. The latter is used in the case of:

• In lesbian couples.
• Single women
• When the partner's semen is not suitable for use in treatment

When is AI with donor sperm performed?

The reproductive technique of insemination is usually the first option in cases of sterility of unknown origin, in patients with ovulatory problems and in women who do not have a male partner. The indication for AI will also influence the decision on how many cycles are performed with this technique, i.e. the reason for insemination will be taken into account.

Number of attempts in AI

In general, it is considered that if pregnancy has not been achieved after four artificial inseminations, the chances of achieving pregnancy will hardly improve with successive inseminations. Therefore, it is advisable to move on to a more invasive treatment such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Cumulative pregnancy rate in artificial insemination

In the case of artificial inseminations with donor sperm (AID), pregnancy rates are considered to improve until the sixth cycle. If pregnancy has not been achieved after 6 DAI, it will be the recommended time to change fertility treatment.

However, as we have already mentioned, this will depend on each case, because reaching 4-6 inseminations is not so common. Therefore, it is essential to study each patient individually before making a decision.

We recommend you visit the following article for more in-depth information on AI: Artificial insemination (AI): What Is Artificial Insemination (AI)? - Process, Cost & Types.

In vitro fertilization (IVF)

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a reproductive technique in which, as its name suggests, fertilization takes place in the laboratory and not in the woman's body, as occurs naturally or in artificial insemination. There are two main types of IVF:

• Classic IVF
• Intracytoplasmic Sperm Microinjection (ICSI)

In both cases, the aim is to hormonally stimulate the woman to obtain a greater number of mature eggs. These are extracted from the ovaries by follicular puncture and fertilized to obtain embryos, which are then left in culture to evaluate their development and transfer the best ones to the mother's uterus.

Number of IVF attempts

In the case of IVF, the maximum number of cycles recommended is less clear, but some studies limit it to three. Others recommend up to four IVF attempts. In the words of Dr. Miguel Dolz:

In the end you have to set a limit because also, even if they are already controlled treatments and you have experience, obviously I think that with 3-4 cycles at the most that would be the normal number up to where we should go.

It should be noted that IVF attempts are counted according to the number of ovarian stimulations performed. Therefore, if in a hormonal treatment many eggs are obtained, several vitrified embryo transfers can be performed, which will increase the chances of pregnancy.

If after this number of attempts pregnancy is not achieved, the specialist will most likely recommend gamete donation (eggs or sperm).

Cumulative pregnancy rate in in vitro fertilisation (IVF)

If you want to learn more about the different types of IVF, you can visit this article: What Is the Difference between Conventional IVF & ICSI?

Hope in cases of infertility

Most couples who start a reproductive treatment do so full of illusion and hope, often with expectations that are too high. This makes it difficult to accept possible failure, which in many situations leads to frustration.

The rate of abandonment of assisted reproduction treatments by couples who wish to have children is very high. After one or more failures, patients often give up: almost 50% of couples who come to fertility centres give up after a first attempt.

Reasons why patients drop out of fertility treatments

Sometimes, the reason is exclusively economic, but most of the time other circumstances come into play, such as the stress and anxiety that these treatments cause to the couple. The emotional toll is also very high and some couples can't take the pressure. For this reason, it is important to consider before starting treatment how many attempts you are going to make and how far you intend to go.

Economic factor and Social Security

Apart from the emotional difficulties involved in trying fertility treatments, it is also important to take into account the financial factor. The cost of an artificial insemination ranges between 600 and 1,700 euros, while an in vitro technique involves an investment of at least 3,500 euros. If we move on to donated gametes, as we can see in the following table, the price increases considerably, and can reach up to 9,000€.

In addition, if complementary techniques are required, such as preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), the price will increase even more.

Indicative prices for assisted reproduction treatments

Fortunately, it is possible to get some of these treatments on Social Security. The principles of action are decided by a group of experts in the field to ensure the rational use of the techniques. The aim is to reduce the potential risks that may arise from its use and to establish guidelines to determine in which situations there should or should not be public coverage. They depend on the age, the cause of infertility, the number of total cycles performed, etc.

In general, Social Security covers these techniques up to the age of 40. However, it is not regulated at the national level but at the autonomous community level, so there are variations between the different autonomous communities.

FAQs from users

What are the optimal conditions or requirements for a patient undergoing an IVF cycle?

There are no optimal conditions, as each patient is different, but there are certain requirements for good physical and mental health to be able to carry a pregnancy to term. The younger the woman is, the better the results will be, as age is the main factor limiting the success of assisted reproduction.

What happens if I don't get pregnant the first time after IVF?

Sometimes pregnancy is not achieved with the first transfer. If there are vitrified embryos, a second transfer can be performed.

If there are no vitrified embryos from the first follicular aspiration, a second IVF cycle can be performed with the advantage of being able to take into account all the information provided by the first cycle. This information is usually very valuable for deciding on actions such as changes in the ovarian stimulation pattern, measures to improve embryo transfer, such as performing a hysteroscopy, and even the possibility of performing a laparoscopy, which can help diagnose hidden pathology such as endometriosis.

It is very important the attitude that is taken before a negative first cycle of assisted reproduction. Being aware that success often does not come the first time can lessen the sadness in the face of a negative result. Specialized psychological support has shown advantages in subsequent cycles.

As regards the number of IVF attempts before giving up, does it vary if it is conventional IVF or ICSI?

Unless fertilization failure has occurred with IVF, we usually take into account all cycles done with both techniques before deciding to move on to another treatment such as egg donation. Even though each patient is different, the average number of IVF attempts recommended is 3 or 4 at our clinic.

Do all attempts at assisted reproduction treatments have the same price?

In general, if it is the same treatment, all attempts have the same price. In the case of IVF, it should be remembered that these are counted on the basis of hormonal stimulation cycles, not transfers. Therefore, even if a transfer is cheaper, it is not an attempt as such.

How many artificial insemination attempts can be made?

There is no legal limit to the number of attempts that can be made. However, many specialists consider that if pregnancy has not been achieved by the fourth insemination, the chances of achieving pregnancy through this technique are low. In some cases, up to six attempts are recommended.

Does the probability of pregnancy increase with the number of AI attempts?

The answer is yes. The success rate of AI is cumulative, i.e. it increases with the number of attempts. However, it has been shown that after the fourth AI, the pregnancy rate remains constant.

Therefore, if pregnancy has not been achieved after four AIs, it would be best to switch to in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

How many IVF cycles before success?

Depending on what lead to IVF failure on the first round, a second attempt could improve the success rate or not.

For instance, if the first IVF cycle failed because of poor uterine receptivity, the protocol will be changed so that it works better on the second attempt.

Usually, various aspects are modified the second time a couple undergoes IVF, something that helps achieve better outcomes in general. It depends, however, on the particularities of each case.

Suggested for you

As we have seen, one of the limitations when it comes to assisted reproduction treatments is their price. Do you want to know how much they cost? We tell you about it in the following link: Overview of the Main Costs of Fertility Treatments.

Depending on each case and the technique that is indicated for each patient, there can be a big difference in cost. Therefore, another key point when it comes to limiting treatments is the technique involved. In this article we explain what techniques exist: What is Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)? - Techniques & Costs.