Still Healing After TFMR? IVF Isn’t Your Only Option

After TFMR, IVF may feel uncertain. Discover risks, recovery, and why surrogacy could be a safer, supported next step to parenthood.

After experiencing a termination for medical reasons (TFMR), the question of whether to pursue fertility treatments again isn’t simple. The thought of IVF after TFMR can feel overwhelming, even when your heart still yearns for parenthood.

If you’re not sure you can go through that again right now, you’re not alone. Many hopeful parents feel stuck between their desire to grow their family and their fear of experiencing another loss.

If you’re already wondering whether IVF is still right for you, or you’re open to other possibilities, fill out our form today to explore a path that protects your hope and your heart.

This article explores the realities of pursuing IVF after TFMR, and an alternative that honors your healing process while preserving your dreams of parenthood.

Should I Try IVF Again After TFMR?

After a TFMR, you may find yourself questioning if you can or should pursue another pregnancy. Ask yourself:

  • Am I physically healed from my last pregnancy and any complications?
  • How does the idea of another round of IVF make me feel emotionally?
  • Do I feel prepared for both the best- and worst-case outcomes?

These questions don’t have right or wrong answers, but they can help guide conversations with your doctor, partner, or a counselor. Whether you pursue IVF again or choose a different path, the decision is deeply personal — and yours alone to make.

What Are My Chances of Success with IVF After TFMR?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the risk of miscarriage after experiencing one pregnancy loss is about 20%. However, this statistic doesn’t account for the various factors that influence success rates or the specific circumstances surrounding TFMR.

Maternal age remains one of the most significant predictors of IVF success, regardless of previous pregnancy experiences. Any underlying fertility conditions that may have contributed to your initial conception challenges will likely continue to affect your chances of success.

However, if your TFMR was due to a genetic condition or a fetal abnormality, you may be a candidate for advanced testing like PGT-A (preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy).

Genetic Screening After TFMR

PGT-A (preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy) can screen embryos for chromosomal abnormalities before transfer. It may reduce the risk of implanting embryos with known issues.

But not all conditions that necessitate TFMR can be detected through testing. Some fetal anomalies develop during pregnancy and cannot be identified at the embryonic stage.

Additionally, PGT-A testing focuses primarily on chromosomal abnormalities and doesn’t detect all genetic conditions or structural problems that might emerge later in pregnancy.

If you’re considering PGT-A for a future IVF cycle or for embryos you’ll use with a surrogate, learn how how this process fits into your journey.

What to Ask Your Fertility Doctor About IVF After TFMR

When you’re considering IVF again after a TFMR, your fertility doctor can help guide you. Here are some important questions to ask:

  • How does my TFMR history affect my chances of success with IVF?
  • Are there any additional risks I should be aware of?
  • Should I consider PGT-A or other genetic screening?
  • Could surrogacy be a safer option for my circumstances?

These conversations can help you clarify your goals and identify the family-building path that best fits your emotional and medical needs.

The Hidden Risks of IVF After TFMR: Are You Prepared?

Recovery time varies significantly based on individual circumstances. While some people feel physically ready to pursue IVF after TFMR within a few months, others require longer healing periods.

Here are some risks and complications to consider:

  • Recovery time may depend on the gestational age and method of delivery. Late-term terminations, especially those requiring cesarean delivery, can lead to uterine scarring or other complications.
  • Hormonal fluctuations after pregnancy termination can persist for several months, potentially impacting fertility treatment.
  • Irregular menstrual cycles or ovulation patterns may follow TFMR, requiring medical monitoring and adjustments to treatment.
  • Physical healing may require several normal menstrual cycles before your body is ready for another round of IVF.

Your fertility specialist will likely recommend waiting for several normal cycles to ensure your body has returned to baseline function and it’s safe to try IVF again after a TFMR.

The Emotional Impact of IVF After TFMR —When Your Heart Isn’t Ready

Even if your body is “ready,” your heart may not be.

Fertility treatments can feel especially stressful after pregnancy loss. Hormone shots, frequent appointments and the wait for embryo transfer can increase anxiety.

Milestones like embryo transfer or the first ultrasound can reawaken grief. Some people describe feeling emotionally numb or fearful of feeling any hope.

These reactions don’t indicate weakness or lack of readiness; they represent normal responses to trauma that deserve acknowledgment. Working with providers who understand the specific support needed after pregnancy loss can significantly improve your treatment experience.

Emotional Support Resources for IVF After TFMR

Finding the right emotional support can make all the difference. Here are a few trusted communities and resources:

  • TFMR Mamas offers various support groups
  • Through the Unexpected focuses on post-pregnancy loss healing
  • Subreddits like r/IVF offer forums for peer support
  • Trauma-informed counselors can help with reproductive grief and pregnancy loss

Financial Considerations of IVF After TFMR

IVF can be expensive, especially if your care now requires genetic testing, additional monitoring or specialized procedures. Insurance may not cover repeat attempts or testing, depending on your provider.

Beyond direct medical costs, IVF after TFMR can be emotionally draining. The possibility of treatment failure after previous pregnancy loss can make each cycle feel like a significant risk.

This pressure may influence treatment decisions or create additional anxiety during already stressful procedures.

Some families find that alternative paths like surrogacy prove more cost-effective over time by reducing the likelihood of repeated failed attempts. You may want to consider what works best for your family.

Surrogacy may offer greater peace of mind and financial predictability. If you’re recovering financially from previous IVF failures, learn about why financing surrogacy after IVF failure is worth it.

What if IVF Feels Too Risky? Exploring Surrogacy as a Path Forward

Feeling scared, exhausted or disconnected from the idea of IVF after TFMR? Your body and mind have endured significant stress, and hesitation doesn’t indicate weakness. Sometimes the bravest decision involves acknowledging when you need a different approach.

You don’t have to abandon your dreams of becoming a parent. Gestational surrogacy offers hope without requiring you to physically carry another pregnancy.

It can be a safer path after multiple losses. You can still use your embryos or create new ones, and your surrogate will carry the pregnancy on your behalf.

This option allows you to pursue parenthood at your own pace, with additional support throughout the process. You deserve a family-building option that respects your grief and protects your hope.

Surrogacy vs. IVF After TFMR: What’s Safer?

Here’s how surrogacy compares to IVF after TFMR:

IVF:

  • Physical Demands: High
  • Emotional Control: Often feels fragile
  • Timeline: Shorter, but unpredictable
  • Cost: Lower per attempt
  • Safety: May carry risks for certain conditions

Surrogacy:

  • Physical Demands: None for intended parents
  • Emotional Control: Shared support throughout
  • Timeline: More structured once matched
  • Cost: Higher upfront, but may reduce cumulative cost from failed cycles
  • Safety: Safest path for those with health risks

How American Surrogacy Supports Families After Loss

American Surrogacy understands that families pursuing surrogacy after pregnancy loss may be struggling with hesitation and fear. Our comprehensive screening process ensures that the surrogates we work with are physically, emotionally and mentally prepared to carry a pregnancy.

When you’re ready to explore IVF alternatives after TFMR, contact us online for more information.

There’s no “right” timeline for healing after pregnancy loss, and we’re prepared to meet you wherever you are in your journey.


Does Starbucks Cover Surrogacy? — How Financing Fills in the Gaps

Starbucks covers surrogacy with up to $40K in benefits. Discover how to qualify, compare options, and access agency-based financing.

Starbucks is one of the most well-known employers to offer fertility benefits, helping thousands of people build their families.

If your current employer doesn’t offer similar coverage or you need additional assistance, American Surrogacy also provides financing options to help make your journey possible.

Need help getting started? Connect with a surrogacy specialist today to learn how your benefits can support your family-building journey.

This guide breaks down what Starbucks offers, how it compares to other employers, and the financial paths available through both your job and our agency.

Yes — Starbucks Covers Surrogacy Through Fertility Benefits

In 2019, Starbucks expanded its family-building program to include gestational surrogacy support, setting a new standard for employer benefits. This makes Starbucks one of the few major companies to explicitly support surrogacy in its health and fertility plans.

U.S.-based employees become eligible after meeting employment requirements, typically including a minimum tenure and average weekly hours.

If you’re unsure whether your benefits will cover your surrogacy journey, we’re here to help. Learn more about how you can afford surrogacy, regardless of your income.

Does Starbucks Cover Surrogacy for Part-Time Employees?

Yes, and that’s part of what makes Starbucks unique. Part-time employees who work at least 20 hours per week and meet a minimum employment period are eligible for the same fertility benefits as full-time workers.

This inclusive policy makes it easier for intended parents with flexible or nontraditional work schedules to move forward in building their families.

What’s Included in Starbucks’ Fertility Benefits?

Starbucks offers a wide range of fertility services to support many paths to parenthood, including:

  • IVF (in vitro fertilization)
  • Gestational surrogacy
  • Egg or sperm donation
  • IUI (intrauterine insemination)
  • Fertility preservation (egg and sperm freezing)

These benefits are administered through third-party partners (typically Carrot) and include a lifetime maximum fertility benefit of $40,000 per employee.

This kind of coverage helps offset the high upfront costs of surrogacy and makes the journey more accessible for many families.

How Much Does Surrogacy Cost — and How Much Can Starbucks Cover?

Surrogacy costs can range from $100,000 - $200,000+, depending on location, legal requirements, and surrogate compensation. Starbucks’ $40,000 lifetime benefit can significantly reduce these costs.

When paired with expert guidance from your surrogacy agency, these benefits could help you move forward faster — and with greater peace of mind.

Between your Starbucks benefit and our agency’s financing programs, surrogacy could be more affordable than you think. Learn more about why surrogacy financing is worth it.

How to Use Starbucks’ Surrogacy Benefits at Work

If you’re a Starbucks employee ready to take the next step, here’s how to access your surrogacy benefits:

  1. Talk with HR – Confirm eligibility requirements and request your plan documents.
  2. Connect with a fertility provider – Starbucks often partners with Carrot, which helps coordinate services.
  3. Work with a surrogacy agency – Choose an agency familiar with employer-backed benefits. They’ll guide you through reimbursement, clinic coordination, legal support, and more.

Need help getting started? Talk to a surrogacy specialist who can help you apply your benefits.

What Companies Offer Surrogacy Benefits, and How Does Starbucks Compare?

Starbucks stands out for offering fertility and surrogacy benefits to both full-time and part-time employees. Here’s how it compares to other family-building-friendly companies:

  • Amazon – Fertility benefits for full-time and some part-time roles
  • Google – Comprehensive family-building support
  • Meta – Fertility, adoption, and surrogacy assistance
  • Microsoft – Fertility coverage and support services
  • Johnson & Johnson – Adoption and surrogacy aid

Understanding how your employer stacks up can help you plan more effectively — and avoid unnecessary financial stress.

Why Employer Surrogacy Benefits Matter to Intended Parents

Employer surrogacy coverage provides financial relief and emotional peace of mind. These benefits help reduce costs that range from $100,000 - $200,000+, allowing families to move forward with confidence.

This kind of support is especially meaningful for:

  • LGBTQ+ couples who may require both egg or sperm donation and a gestational carrier
  • Single parents growing their family on their own
  • Couples with medical complications that make pregnancy unsafe or impossible

If your job includes this kind of benefit, you may be closer to parenthood than you think. And if it doesn’t, there are still ways forward.

What If My Employer Doesn’t Cover Surrogacy?

Even if your employer doesn’t offer surrogacy benefits, you still have options to make this journey affordable. Many hopeful parents explore:

  • Fertility grants offered by nonprofits
  • Surrogacy financing or loans tailored for family-building
  • Health savings accounts
  • Home equity lines of credit
  • Crowdfunding or support from family and friends

If you’re not covered through work, don’t worry — there are other options. Learn more about your financing options and how we offer flexible surrogacy financing to help bridge the gap.

Why American Surrogacy is a Great Partner for Starbucks Employees

American Surrogacy has experience working with intended parents using employer-provided fertility benefits, including those from Starbucks.

We can help you:

  • Understand and apply your benefit plan
  • Coordinate with Carrot and your clinic
  • Navigate legal, financial, and logistical steps

With the right support team, your path to parenthood can begin today.

Ready to Use Your Starbucks Benefits for Surrogacy?

Your job might already be giving you the tools to build your family. If you qualify for fertility coverage through Starbucks or another employer, now is a great time to explore your options.

The right surrogacy agency can help you understand your benefits. Fill out our form to connect with a surrogacy specialist and start your journey today.

Let’s Talk Surrogacy: Why I Became a Surrogate (Episode 1)

Let’s Talk Surrogacy is your go-to podcast for real, unfiltered conversations about the surrogacy journey from both sides of the experience.


Welcome to Let’s Talk Surrogacy

New episodes drop on the first Tuesday of every month! Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss a story that could inspire or inform your own surrogacy journey.

Featuring surrogates, intended parents, and industry professionals, we explore the emotional, physical, and legal realities of creating a family through surrogacy.

Whether you’re thinking about becoming a surrogate, navigating infertility, or simply curious about how the process works, this podcast offers insight, guidance, and support every step of the way.

Prefer to listen? Stream this episode on your favorite podcast platform:

Episode Highlight: Meg’s Surrogacy Journey

In this heartfelt episode, we meet Meg, a two-time surrogate and mom of four, who shares why she chose to carry for others and how her journey evolved between her two experiences.

Meg discusses the real-life physical and emotional demands of surrogacy. She also opens up about experiencing a miscarriage during her second journey and how strong agency support helped her find resilience and success in a second transfer attempt.

Meg’s story is a powerful reminder of the strength, empathy, and support it takes to walk the surrogacy path—and how deeply meaningful it can be for both surrogates and intended parents.

Join the Conversation

Have thoughts on this episode? Leave a comment below or follow us on Instagram—we’d love to hear your story, questions or reflections on surrogacy.

IVF Failure with Asherman’s Syndrome: What It Means — and What You Can Do

Struggling with IVF due to Asherman’s syndrome? Learn what causes failure and how surrogacy could help you move forward with hope.

Experiencing multiple failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) transfers can leave you wondering if you’ll ever hold your baby. You’ve done everything right, yet it seems like your body continues to work against your dreams of parenthood.

Many hopeful parents discover that their repeated IVF failures stem from Asherman’s syndrome (uterine adhesions) that went undiagnosed for months or even years.

If you’re ready to explore family-building alternatives, we can help. Contact us today for more information about gestational surrogacy.

This article explores why IVF with Asherman’s presents unique challenges and what treatment options exist.

What Is Asherman’s Syndrome? – and How Does it Affect IVF?

Asherman’s syndrome is a condition in which scar tissue (also called intrauterine adhesions) forms inside the uterus. This scarring can significantly affect fertility by disrupting the natural function of the uterine lining.

For those experiencing IVF with Asherman’s, this condition often explains persistent implantation failure despite high-quality embryos. Understanding this underlying condition can be the first step toward reclaiming control over your fertility journey.

Why Does IVF Fail With Asherman’s?

When someone has Asherman’s syndrome, scar tissue interferes with the way the uterine lining builds up and functions. For IVF to succeed, the endometrium must be thick, healthy and receptive to the embryo.

Unfortunately, in many people with Asherman’s, the lining remains too thin or irregular, making successful implantation much less likely.

Even when your embryos are chromosomally normal and considered high quality by your fertility team, they may struggle to implant. This can lead to emotional exhaustion and financial strain for many families.

Still unsure why IVF isn’t working? Here are questions you can ask your doctor if you suspect Asherman’s might be affecting your results

What Causes Uterine Adhesions?                                   

Uterine adhesions often develop after procedures like dilation and curettage (D&C), typically following a miscarriage or childbirth. They can also form after C-sections, fibroid removal or other uterine surgeries.

In some cases, untreated infections or chronic inflammation from conditions like endometriosis can cause adhesions to develop over time.

These adhesions aren’t always obvious. As a result, many people don’t know they exist until they try getting pregnant with Asherman’s syndrome.

If your diagnosis was delayed, it’s understandable to feel frustrated, but it’s never too late to explore a new path forward.

Can You Do IVF After Treating Asherman’s? Your Options Explained

Yes, in mild or moderate cases, doctors may recommend hysteroscopic adhesiolysis, a procedure that carefully removes scar tissue from the uterus.

This minimally invasive outpatient surgery typically takes 30 to 60 minutes. Your fertility team may place an intrauterine device (IUD) or prescribe estrogen therapy afterward to prevent the adhesions from reforming as your uterine lining heals.

However, the success of surgical treatment varies significantly based on the severity and location of your adhesions.

When multiple surgical attempts don’t fully restore your uterine environment, your care team may recommend exploring alternative approaches.

Support and Resources for Those Struggling with IVF with Asherman’s Syndrome

  • r/IVF: A subbredit for patients undergoing IVF to share their struggles and experiences.
  • Asherman’s Syndrome Awareness and Support: A Facebook group created by the International Asherman’s Association for women to share their experiences and receive peer support.

When IVF Fails with Asherman’s: Signs You’re Ready for Surrogacy

If you’ve experienced multiple failed embryo transfers, it may be time to consider surrogacy as your next step. This decision isn’t about giving up on your dreams; it’s about finding another option if your uterus can’t carry a baby.

Wondering if it’s the right time to consider surrogacy? Consider these signs:

  • You’ve experienced two or more unsuccessful IVF cycles, even with high-quality embryos.
  • Doctors suspect persistent implantation issues despite previous treatments.
  • You’re feeling emotionally exhausted from ongoing attempts without results.
  • You’re concerned about how continued treatments will affect your finances and long-term goals.

Recognize yourself in these signs? Surrogacy might be the compassionate next step forward. Learn more about surrogacy after failed IVF.

How Surrogacy Solves the IVF Challenges Caused by Asherman’s Syndrome

Surrogacy allows you to use your own embryos and transfer them into the uterus of a gestational carrier. This approach completely bypasses the implantation challenges caused by Asherman’s syndrome while still allowing you to have a biological connection to your child.

Your surrogate will be carefully screened by both medical professionals and our agency to ensure they’re prepared to carry a pregnancy. With the right support team in place, you can focus on building your family in a way that works for your situation and your future.

Why Work with a Surrogacy Agency After IVF with Asherman’s Syndrome?

If you’re dealing with uterine adhesions and IVF failure, a surrogacy agency can help make your journey smoother and more successful. Here’s how:

  • Expert coordination between your fertility clinic, legal team and surrogate to streamline every step of the process
  • Thorough screening of surrogates to ensure they are medically qualified and emotionally prepared
  • Personalized emotional support to help you process grief or trauma from past IVF failures

You don’t have to figure this out alone. The right agency can offer clarity, guidance and reassurance during a time that feels uncertain.

Surrogacy After IVF with Asherman’s: A Hopeful Next Step

Surrogacy after failed IVF isn’t a last resort. It’s a hopeful, proactive choice many families make when their uterus can’t safely carry a pregnancy.

You don’t have to go through another failed cycle. You don’t have to keep wondering if this time will be different. Like many families affected by Asherman’s, you deserve to explore a path that brings lasting hope.

Our team is here to help you explore your next steps with clarity and compassion.

Contact a surrogacy specialist today to learn more about surrogacy.

Surrogacy for Tokophobia: A Compassionate Path to Parenthood Without Pregnancy

Afraid of pregnancy but still want a family? Discover how surrogacy for tokophobia protects your mental health and builds your dream.

Does the thought of being pregnant cause overwhelming fear despite your deep desire to become a parent?

Tokophobia, or the intense fear of pregnancy and childbirth, affects countless individuals who dream of building their families.

The truth is that your mental and emotional well-being matter just as much as your physical health when it comes to family-building, and you deserve a fear-free path.

If you’re ready to explore your options, fill out our simple form, and a surrogacy specialist will reach out and walk you through your next steps.

Below, we’ll explain how tokophobia impacts family planning and how a surrogacy agency can support you.

What is Tokophobia?

Tokophobia is a medically recognized phobia defined as an intense, irrational fear of pregnancy and childbirth. According to Cleveland Clinic, this condition can dramatically affect a person’s quality of life and decisions around family planning.

Unlike typical pregnancy anxiety, tokophobia can trigger debilitating physical symptoms like panic attacks, rapid heartbeat, nausea, and emotional distress. For some, the fear is so overwhelming that it prevents them from starting or growing their family.

Mental health experts identify two types of tokophobia:

Primary Tokophobia

Primary tokophobia affects individuals who have never been pregnant. It often arises from fear of the unknown, sometimes intensified by traumatic birth stories, medical imagery, or social pressure.

If you experience distress at the thought of OB-GYN visits or childbirth discussions, you may be navigating this form of tokophobia. Despite societal messages to “just get over it,” this fear is real and valid.

Secondary Tokophobia

Secondary tokophobia develops after a past trauma related to pregnancy or childbirth. This may include:

  • A miscarriage
  • Emergency C-section
  • Complications during delivery

This form of tokophobia can overlap with PTSD and other emotional responses. If flashbacks, panic, or distress persist after a pregnancy-related event, secondary tokophobia may be the cause.

Emotional Realities: You’re Not Alone

If you’re struggling with tokophobia, you may feel alone in a world where pregnancy is often idealized. But many people silently share your fear and they deserve support just like you.

Whether you’re dealing with trauma, anxiety, or deep-rooted fear, your experiences are real and deserving of care. Choosing surrogacy is not a failure, it’s a brave, proactive choice to protect your mental health and honor your desire to become a parent.

Support Resources for Those Considering Surrogacy for Tokophobia

  • Tokophobia Support Network: A Facebook group for anyone struggling with tokophobia where you can share your experiences with people who understand what you’re going through.
  • r/Tokophobia: A subreddit where sufferers of tokophobia can seek support and have discussions about their situation.
  • Fear Free Childbirth: If you’d like to try overcoming your fear, this website provides various programs for women struggling with tokophobia.

How Surrogacy Works for People with Tokophobia

Surrogacy for tokophobia enables biological parenthood without requiring you to carry the pregnancy. Here’s how the process works with American Surrogacy:

  1. Match with a pre-screened surrogate: We’ll help you connect with a compassionate gestational surrogate who has passed medical and psychological evaluations.
  2. Establish a legal agreement: With separate legal counsel, you and your surrogate will create a contract outlining responsibilities, rights, and expectations.
  3. Complete embryo transfer: Using your eggs/sperm or donor gametes, embryos are created via IVF and transferred to your surrogate.

Our surrogates are highly qualified, thoroughly screened, and ready to support your journey. Learn more about how we make our matching process quick and personalized.

Can Mental Health Reasons Qualify You for Surrogacy?

Yes. If pregnancy presents a psychological risk, surrogacy is a medically accepted alternative.

To move forward, you may need a letter from a licensed therapist or physician. This document should confirm that carrying a pregnancy would negatively impact your mental health.

It doesn’t need to detail your entire history, just affirm that surrogacy is the best path for your emotional and psychological safety.

Talking to Your Doctor About Surrogacy for Tokophobia

Initiating this conversation with a healthcare provider can be intimidating, but doctors are here to support your well-being. Here’s how to get started:

  • Schedule a mental health evaluation: A licensed therapist can assess your symptoms and provide the necessary documentation.
  • Use the term “tokophobia”: Giving your experience a clinical name can help doctors better understand your needs.
  • Ask directly about surrogacy: Share your concerns and inquire if your provider supports surrogacy as a mental health safeguard.

American Surrogacy can also assist by coordinating with your doctor or mental health professional to support your application.

When to Reach Out to a Surrogacy Agency: How American Surrogacy Supports You

When you choose American Surrogacy, you gain a compassionate, experienced team that understands tokophobia and honors your emotional journey. We:

  • Recognize emotional health as vital in family building
  • Match you with surrogates aligned to your needs
  • Screen gestational carriers for physical and emotional readiness
  • Customize your experience to meet your comfort level

You don’t have to wait until your fear disappears to act. This journey is yours and we’re ready to help whenever you are.

Contact us today to learn more about getting a doctor’s referral and what your next steps to surrogacy look like.

FAQs: Surrogacy for Tokophobia

Q: Can I still be involved in the pregnancy if I have tokophobia?

Yes, you choose how much involvement feels right, from attending appointments to delivery.

Q: Will my surrogate understand my mental health concerns?

We screen surrogates carefully and help match you with someone empathetic and supportive.

Q: Do I need a formal diagnosis?

No, but a letter from a healthcare provider can help validate the use of surrogacy.

Q: Is surrogacy more expensive for mental health reasons?

Costs are generally the same regardless of your medical reason for choosing surrogacy.

World IVF Day 2025: Honoring Your Journey—and Finding Hope

World IVF Day 2025 honors your journey. Learn when IVF isn’t enough—and how surrogacy can offer a faster path to parenthood.

World IVF Day is a moment to honor the countless intended parents who have bravely navigated the highs and heartbreaks of fertility treatments. Whether you’re just beginning IVF or are in the midst of your journey, this day is about your story and your dreams of building a family.

For families whose IVF path hasn’t led to the outcome they hoped for, we’re here to help you explore a new, empowered way forward.

If you’re ready to take the next step beyond IVF, we’re ready to guide you. Let’s find a path to parenthood that works. Fill out our simple form today to get connected with a surrogacy specialist. 

What Is World IVF Day? 

World IVF Day, observed annually on July 25, commemorates the birth of Louise Brown in 1978, the world’s first baby born through in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Since then, World IVF Day has become a global acknowledgment of the millions of families who have grown through assisted reproductive technology (ART).

Whether you’re just beginning IVF or have been through multiple cycles, this day symbolizes resilience and hope.

Why IVF Is Both a Hopeful and Hard Journey 

World IVF Day isn’t just a celebration, it’s a complex emotional marker for many intended parents. IVF brings immense hope, but it also often comes with failed cycles, physical tolls, emotional burnout and significant financial costs.

Some couples see success early, while others endure years of procedures, losses, and uncertainty. World IVF Day shines a light on the resilience of those who persist in the face of repeated heartbreak, reminding us that every attempt reflects deep love and determination to build a family.

What Happens If IVF Doesn’t Work? 

World IVF Day shines a light on the resilience of those who persist in the face of repeated heartbreak, reminding us that every attempt reflects deep love and determination to build a family.

Some couples see success early, while others endure years of procedures, losses and uncertainty. The natural question becomes: what now?

For families who have already created embryos through IVF, surrogacy can be the next step forward offering a renewed chance at parenthood without starting over.

Wondering what comes next after IVF? Explore how surrogacy could be the next step for your family.

When Is It Time to Consider Surrogacy? 

For many intended parents, the decision to pursue surrogacy only comes after years of trying to conceive on their own or through IVF treatments. But how do you know when it’s time to shift your focus? 

Here are some common signals: 

  • You’ve had multiple failed IVF cycles with no clear medical explanation. 
  • Your doctor has advised against carrying a pregnancy for health reasons. 
  • You’ve experienced recurrent pregnancy loss. 
  • IVF treatments have become emotionally or financially exhausting

World IVF Day is an ideal moment to reflect not just on where you’ve been—but where you want to go. If you feel like you’ve done everything possible and still aren’t closer to holding your baby, surrogacy may offer the next right step.

How Surrogacy Complements the IVF Journey  

Many people don’t realize how deeply connected IVF and surrogacy really are.

For those who’ve undergone IVF and created viable embryos, those embryos can be used in your surrogacy journey to be transferred to a surrogate—someone who carries the pregnancy but has no genetic link to the child. 

On World IVF Day, it’s important to recognize that surrogacy isn’t giving up, so much as an extension of your fertility efforts.

Already created embryos through IVF? Reach out to day to be matched with a surrogate quickly and fast track your path to parenthood.

IVF vs. Surrogacy: Comparing Cost, Success and Time to Parenthood

World IVF Day is a time to celebrate how far fertility treatments have come—but also to take an honest look at where your own journey stands.

Here’s how IVF and surrogacy compare when it comes to three of the most important factors: cost, efficacy and time to parenthood.

Cost: What You’re Really Spending 

IVF: One IVF cycle can cost $15,000–$25,000, and many families undergo 3–5 cycles before achieving pregnancy, often totaling $60,000–$100,000 or more. Costs can rise with medications, genetic testing, and embryo storage.

Surrogacy: A full surrogacy journey through an agency typically ranges from $100,000-$200,000 including surrogate compensation, medical expenses, legal work and agency coordination.

While the upfront cost may seem higher, many intended parents find that surrogacy avoids the emotional and financial toll of repeated IVF failure.

Worried about affording surrogacy after costly IVF cycles? Learn how American Surrogacy helps families find financial clarity.

Efficacy: What Are the Chances It Will Work? 

IVF Alone: IVF success rates depend on age and fertility diagnosis, but average around 30–50% per cycle. Many intended parents face unexplained failures or implantation issues that remain unresolved even after multiple attempts. 

Surrogacy: When using healthy embryos with a thoroughly screened gestational carrier, success rates may be higher, particularly with agency-managed matches with highly-qualified surrogates. This makes surrogacy more efficient and more predictable after failed IVF.

Time: How Soon Can You Hold Your Baby? 

IVF: Each cycle takes 6–8 weeks, with weeks of prep and follow-up. Failed cycles mean starting over. The timeline can stretch to years with uncertain outcomes. 

Surrogacy: With an agency like American Surrogacy, you may match with a surrogate in as little as 1-4 months, and move directly to embryo transfer (especially if you already have frozen embryos). For many, it’s the quickest path to parenthood after years of trying.

World IVF Day is about honoring your journey, but also about being honest with what comes next. Surrogacy may offer a clearer, faster and ultimately more successful path forward.

Why Some Families Choose Surrogacy After IVF 

For many families, surrogacy becomes a life-changing decision after IVF has failed or is no longer medically advised.

Conditions like uterine abnormalities, recurrent pregnancy loss, or health concerns can make carrying a pregnancy unsafe or unsuccessful, even with healthy embryos.

Surrogacy offers intended parents the opportunity to have a biologically related child, even if they cannot carry the pregnancy themselves.

It’s a decision that involves trust, emotional surrender and courage, but for many, it leads to the joy and closure they’ve been longing for.

How American Surrogacy Can Help You Grow Your Family—Faster and Safer 

At American Surrogacy, we specialize in turning fertility frustration into forward motion. Here’s how we make a difference: 

  • Pre-screened surrogates ready for matching 
  • Legal, medical, and emotional coordination under one roof 
  • Transparent pricing and cost-efficiency compared to repeat IVF rounds 
  • Support for using your existing embryos via gestational surrogacy 

You’ve already invested so much into becoming a parent—we’re here to help you reach that goal sooner.

Your Family Journey Isn’t Over—It’s About to Begin 

At American Surrogacy, we understand the emotional cost of IVF—and we know how exhausting it is to keep trying without answers. If you’re ready to stop cycling and start moving forward, we’re ready to help. 

Talk to a surrogacy specialist today. 

Let’s create a plan that’s built around your embryos, your vision, and your timeline—so you can grow your family with confidence, not exhaustion. 

Can You Choose Your Baby’s Genes With IVF and Surrogacy?

You can’t choose your baby’s genes with IVF for surrogacy, but PGT helps screen embryos for health to guide safe, informed choices.

With the rise of advanced fertility technologies, many hopeful parents are asking: Can you choose genes with IVF, and if so, how much?

IVF allows for detailed genetic screening, but not genetic engineering. Knowing which traits can be selected (and which cannot) helps you make empowered, ethical and medically sound choices for your journey.

In this article, we’ll explain:

  • What you can and cannot choose through IVF
  • How preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) works with surrogacy
  • When and why genetic screening may be recommended

If you’re searching for an IVF clinic that provides genetic screening for embryos, we can connect you with a reputable clinic in your area. Fill out our easy form today.

Can You Choose Your Baby’s Genes With IVF?

The short answer is no. At least, not in the way pop culture often suggests. While modern fertility treatments offer powerful genetic insights, they don’t let you pick traits like eye color, intelligence or personality.

Instead, many IVF programs incorporate preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), a tool that helps identify embryos with specific genetic conditions before they are transferred to a gestational surrogate. There are two common types:

  • PGT-A (Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy): Screens for chromosomal abnormalities that could impact development or lead to failed implantation.
  • PGT-M (Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic/Single Gene Disorders): Detects inherited diseases like cystic fibrosis or Tay-Sachs.

These tests don’t change or edit an embryo’s genes. Rather, they provide a detailed look at the genetic makeup that’s already present when sperm and egg combine.

Think of PGT like reading a book, not rewriting the story. You can choose which embryo to transfer based on that information, but you cannot modify or select specific traits beyond medical screening.

Have questions about IVF and genetic screening? Learn more about pre-implantation genetic testing for IVF and surrogacy.

What Can You Choose With IVF?

Most of the traits people imagine choosing, such as eye color, hair color, intelligence or athleticism are polygenic, meaning they are influenced by multiple genes and complex environmental factors.

These traits involve thousands of genetic interactions that science is still learning to decode. Current IVF technology cannot detect or select for these traits, and no test can guarantee them.

What IVF can do is help screen for certain inherited conditions and chromosomal abnormalities, allowing you to prioritize embryo health and pregnancy success. Below is a breakdown of what’s possible and what isn’t.

Can You Choose Eye Color With IVF?

No, you cannot choose eye color with IVF. Although eye color is genetic, it’s influenced by multiple genes that control pigmentation.

IVF clinics do not screen for these cosmetic traits. Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is focused on identifying serious medical conditions, not selecting for appearance.

Can You Choose Hair Color With IVF?

No, hair color selection is not possible with IVF. Like eye color, hair color involves multiple genes and can change over time.

IVF with PGT doesn’t include analysis of pigmentation genes and cannot guarantee any particular hair color in a child.

Can You Choose the Sex of Your Baby With IVF?

Yes — to a degree. When using PGT-A, the sex chromosomes of each embryo are visible during testing. This means if you have multiple healthy embryos of different sexes, you can choose which embryo to transfer first.

However, you can only choose from the embryos you already have. There’s no guarantee you’ll produce viable embryos of both sexes, and selection doesn’t influence the creation of future embryos.

Concerned about sex-linked conditions? Learn more about IVF and embryo sex selection.

Can You Remove Certain DNA Through IVF?

No, IVF cannot remove or change an embryo’s DNA. This is a common misconception.

While PGT allows you to analyze the DNA of embryos, it does not modify them. The embryo’s genetic makeup is fixed at the moment of fertilization.

Removing, editing, or altering DNA, such as through CRISPR gene-editing, is not part of any standard IVF or surrogacy process and is not legally permitted in clinical practice in the U.S.

Can IVF Avoid Autism?

No, IVF cannot be used to prevent autism. Autism spectrum disorder is influenced by multiple genes and environmental factors, and no single genetic marker determines whether a child will be autistic.

There is currently no test that can screen for or eliminate autism through IVF, and reputable clinics will not make such claims.

Can IVF Avoid Down Syndrome?

Yes, IVF combined with PGT-A can screen for chromosomal abnormalities like trisomy 21, the cause of Down syndrome. If an embryo has an extra copy of chromosome 21, it will be identified during genetic screening. This allows intended parents to avoid transferring affected embryos, reducing the risk of a Down syndrome diagnosis.

Can You Use IVF to Avoid Cystic Fibrosis?

Yes, IVF can screen for cystic fibrosis (CF) using PGT-M, which looks for mutations in the CFTR gene. If both genetic contributors are carriers, PGT-M helps determine which embryos inherited the faulty gene.

Intended parents can then choose to transfer only unaffected embryos — a crucial option for families with a history of genetic conditions.

How Does Sex Selection Work with IVF and Surrogacy?

Sex selection is one of the few traits you can choose during the IVF process but it’s important to understand how and why.

When you undergo preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A), embryologists analyze the chromosomes of each embryo.

As part of this process, they can determine whether each embryo carries XX chromosomes (female) or XY chromosomes (male). If you have healthy embryos of both sexes, you can choose which one to transfer first.

For intended parents pursuing IVF with surrogacy, this may offer a degree of choice, but only within the limits of what your embryo pool allows.

Pros of Sex Selection through IVF

  • Family balancing: Can help shape desired family composition
  • Medical necessity: May help prevent sex-linked genetic diseases
  • Planning flexibility: Gives intended parents more choice in embryo selection

Cons and Considerations

  • Ethical concerns: Raises questions about gender preferences and fairness
  • Limited embryo options: You can only choose from the embryos available, if none match your preferred sex, you cannot “create” one
  • Cultural and societal pressures: May unintentionally reinforce gender stereotypes or biases

So while sex selection is one small area where IVF gives you limited control, it’s not equivalent to choosing or changing your baby’s genes. It fits within the broader context of informed embryo selection, not genetic engineering.

Should I Pursue Genetic Screening With IVF for Surrogacy?

Deciding whether to pursue PGT-A or PGT-M involves weighing several factors.

Factors to Consider

Cost is a major consideration. These tests are often paid out-of-pocket:

  • PGT-A: ~$2,000 to $5,000 per IVF cycle
  • PGT-M: ~$7,000 to $12,000+ per condition

Insurance coverage varies significantly, and many intended parents must plan for these expenses independently.

However, the potential to avoid a failed transfer or a genetic condition may outweigh the cost, depending on your personal circumstances.

When Genetic Screening May Be Recommended

Your fertility specialist may recommend PGT if any of the following apply:

  • Maternal age of 35 or older
  • History of recurrent pregnancy loss
  • Known genetic conditions in your family
  • A previous child with chromosomal abnormalities
  • Male factor infertility tied to chromosomal issues

For those using donor gametes or gestational surrogates, screening may help ensure that only viable, genetically healthy embryos are transferred, an important step in maximizing success and minimizing risk.

The Role of Genetic Counselors

One of the best resources available during this decision-making process is a genetic counselor. These professionals can:

  • Review your medical and family history
  • Explain the scope and limitations of testing
  • Clarify what conditions PGT may detect in your case
  • Help you weigh the cost vs. benefit of testing

You might ask your genetic counselor:

  • What specific conditions would testing identify in our case?
  • How could the results influence our embryo transfer decisions?
  • What’s the accuracy of PGT for our situation?

What Genetic Screening Means for Surrogacy

In the context of surrogacy, genetic screening is not just a medical tool, it’s a key part of the planning process. For intended parents wondering can you choose genes with IVF, the real power lies in understanding genetic information before embryo transfer, especially when a gestational carrier is involved.

Why Timing Matters

Most intended parents complete embryo creation and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) before matching with a surrogate. This timing is important for several reasons:

  • Informed embryo selection: You’ll know which embryos are genetically viable
  • More predictable outcomes: You reduce the risk of failed transfers or medical complications
  • Clearer communication: Everyone,  including the surrogate, understands what to expect

This upfront clarity allows for smoother planning and can ease the emotional toll of later-stage complications or surprises.

Emotional Support During a Complex Process

At American Surrogacy, we understand that genetic testing can reveal difficult realities such as fewer viable embryos than anticipated or the presence of inherited conditions. These moments can be emotionally intense and may affect your decisions about how to move forward.

That’s why our team is committed to walking with you through every step, offering both practical guidance and empathetic support.

Whether you’re interpreting test results, making decisions about embryo transfer, or just looking for reassurance, we’re here to ensure you feel confident and informed.

Genetic Screening Helps You Prepare — Not Control

Ultimately, while you cannot choose or change your baby’s genes with IVF, you can choose how much information you want before proceeding with a transfer. That information helps shape your surrogacy journey with intention and peace of mind.

Ready to Learn More About IVF and Surrogacy?

Building a family through IVF and surrogacy is about love and intention. You deserve clarity and support as you navigate the possibilities of genetic testing.

We’re here to help you build your family in an informed, ethical way. Whether you’re just beginning to explore surrogacy or ready to move forward, having the right support makes all the difference.

Fill out our form to get free information and connect with a surrogacy specialist today.

What Happens if You Miscarry During Surrogacy? How Agencies Stand Beside Surrogates

Surrogate miscarriage is painful, but you’re not alone. Learn how American Surrogacy supports surrogates with care, clarity, and compassion.

No one begins a surrogacy journey expecting loss, but sometimes, heartbreak becomes part of the story. A surrogate miscarriage is one of the most emotionally complex experiences a woman can face.

If you’re navigating this path or preparing for the “what ifs”—please know this: you are not alone, and you are not to blame. At American Surrogacy, we believe that real support means showing up for the hardest parts of the journey, not just the milestones.

If you’re navigating a surrogate miscarriage or simply want to know you’ll be supported no matter what, our team is here for you. Reach out to a surrogacy specialist today for support that puts your wellbeing first.

What Happens if You Miscarry During Surrogacy?

A surrogate miscarriage can be a heartbreaking and overwhelming experience, but surrogates are never expected to face it alone.

When a miscarriage occurs, the first step is medical care. Your OB-GYN or fertility clinic will provide the necessary procedures, testing, and follow-up to ensure your health and safety.

Legally, your surrogacy contract outlines what happens in this situation, including how intended parents are informed and how compensation is handled. Emotionally, the agency becomes your lifeline.

The emotional and physical recovery timeline varies, and we honor each surrogate’s unique path forward with unwavering support.

Is It My Fault? What Every Surrogate Needs to Know About Miscarriage

One of the most painful myths surrounding a surrogate miscarriage is the belief that the surrogate somehow did something wrong.

In reality, miscarriages are common and usually caused by chromosomal or developmental issues that are entirely out of anyone’s control.

At American Surrogacy, we ensure that our surrogates understand from the beginning that they are never to blame if a loss occurs. Our agency provides ongoing emotional support, including access to therapists who specialize in reproductive grief.

We help surrogates navigate feelings of guilt, shame, or confusion with empathy and clinical clarity. Surrogacy is built on courage and generosity. Even in the face of loss, those qualities remain deeply respected and protected.

What Support Do Surrogates Receive After a Pregnancy Loss?

After a surrogate miscarriage, emotional healing and personal care become the top priorities and with American Surrogacy, that support is both immediate and ongoing.

Our surrogates are offered access to licensed mental health professionals who specialize in reproductive loss, so they have a safe, confidential space to process their grief.

We also provide continued case management support, regular check-ins from our team and optional participation in surrogate support groups where shared experiences create comfort and connection.

Every surrogate is different, and so is every healing journey. That’s why our support is never one-size-fits-all. Whether you want space, conversation or ongoing resources, American Surrogacy adapts to your needs, because you deserve to be supported fully, not just medically, but emotionally, too.

Emotional Support Resources After a Surrogacy Loss

Whether you need someone to talk to immediately or prefer quiet reflection with the option to reach out later, we respect your process.

That’s why we connect our surrogates with licensed counselors and support groups while providing ongoing agency communication tailored to your needs.

You can also explore the virtual support groups and forums below.

  • Empty Arms Bereavement Support: A free support group for those who have experience a miscarriage or early pregnancy loss. All meeting are through Zoom.
  • Rachel’s Gift: Free virtual support groups for those who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirths and infant loss.
  • r/Miscarriage: A community for those who have experienced miscarriage to talk about their loss and seek peer support.
  • r/PregnancyAfterLoss: A subreddit for those who become pregnant after miscarriage or infant loss.

Why Agency Support Matters During a Surrogate Miscarriage

In the wake of a surrogate miscarriage, having the right agency by your side isn’t just helpful—it’s everything. The emotional, medical, and logistical challenges that follow a pregnancy loss can feel overwhelming.

That’s why surrogates who partner with American Surrogacy receive wraparound care designed to meet every need: emotional counseling, clear communication protocols, legal clarity and heartfelt check-ins that don’t stop after the initial crisis fades.

Without an experienced, empathetic agency, surrogates may be left to navigate grief, legalities, or conversations with intended parents on their own. But with American Surrogacy, you are never alone. We advocate for you every step of the way.

Choosing the right agency means choosing a team that stands beside you when things don’t go as planned—and that’s when it matters most.

What the Surrogacy Contract Says About Miscarriage

Every surrogacy journey begins with a carefully crafted legal agreement and that includes planning for difficult moments like a surrogate miscarriage.

Your contract outlines what happens in the event of a pregnancy loss, including how compensation is handled, who is responsible for medical costs, and how communication with intended parents is managed. This legal clarity is essential: it protects you emotionally and financially during a vulnerable time.

Our agency works closely with experienced surrogacy attorneys to ensure that every surrogate’s rights, health and peace of mind are prioritized in the contract. Knowing that you’re protected allows you to focus on healing, not logistics and reinforces that your agency is with you, every step of the way.

Learn more about surrogacy contracts.

Do Surrogates Get Paid if They Miscarry?

Yes, in most cases, you are compensated up until the miscarriage occurs.

Surrogate miscarriage does not typically negate earned payments, and any escrowed funds are managed per the terms of your contract. American Surrogacy ensures transparency and fairness in all financial matters, so you can focus on recovery without added stress.

Just as with the previous pregnancy, if you and the intended parents decide to try again after your doctor has medically cleared you to do so, payments will resume once a pregnancy is confirmed. You will still receive the full amount of compensation outlined in your contract.

How Intended Parents Are Involved When a Surrogate Miscarriage Occurs

One of the hardest parts of a surrogate miscarriage is the emotional weight of telling the intended parents. You might worry about their reaction or feel like you let them down.

While intended parents may feel deeply saddened, surrogates need to know: they are not to blame. Miscarriage is no one’s fault. Intended parents often respond with empathy, gratitude and heartbreak rather than anger.

Your surrogacy specialist can provide sensitive mediation and emotional support to help all sides navigate this complex moment. Our agency plays a key role in helping surrogates and intended parents communicate with clarity and care, while also respecting each individual’s grieving process.

Surrogates are never left to carry the emotional weight or explain difficult news alone. We also help intended parents process their grief while reinforcing their continued respect for the surrogate’s bravery and effort.

In many cases, these shared hardships actually strengthen the bond between surrogate and family. With the right emotional support, healing happens—together, not apart.

Can I Be a Surrogate Again After a Miscarriage?

Experiencing a surrogate miscarriage doesn’t automatically disqualify you from future journeys. After medical clearance from your doctor and a recovery period, many surrogates go on to complete successful pregnancies.

American Surrogacy will support you in making a decision that aligns with your emotional readiness and health. Some surrogates choose to try again; others decide their journey ends here—either path is honored.

How Common is Miscarriage in Surrogacy?

It might surprise you to learn that miscarriage, including surrogate miscarriage, is relatively common. It affects about 10-20% of all pregnancies. Even when the embryo is healthy, and everything seems perfect, miscarriage can still happen.

Age, embryo quality, and other health factors can play a role, but sometimes there’s simply no clear reason. Knowing this doesn’t make the loss easier, but it can help you release some of the self-blame and understand that this experience is sadly a part of many women’s reproductive journeys.  

How American Surrogacy Supports You Through Every Step

Experiencing a surrogate miscarriage is an emotionally difficult and deeply personal event. At American Surrogacy, our priority is ensuring that no surrogate ever faces that pain alone.

When a miscarriage occurs, our team offers emotional support, licensed counseling referrals, and guidance through next steps.

Surrogates are offered access to mental health professionals experienced in reproductive loss, as well as ongoing check-ins from our staff. We also facilitate peer support networks so surrogates can connect with others who’ve walked a similar path.

Importantly, every step is guided by empathy, not pressure or blame. Surrogacy is a journey that comes with joy and, sometimes, loss. We’re here for all of it, with full-circle care that honors your experience and well-being.

You Don’t Have to Face This Alone

Loss is never easy, but with the right agency, you’ll never walk through it unsupported. At American Surrogacy, we care for every aspect of yourself that you’ve invested in this journey: heart, body and mind. If you’re ready to learn more or just need someone to listen, we’re here.

Connect with a specialist today by filling out our quick form.

Why Am I Ovulating on Letrozole But Not Getting Pregnant?

Ovulating on letrozole but still not pregnant with PCOS? Learn key barriers, treatments, and surrogacy options with American Surrogacy.

If you’re ovulating on letrozole but not getting pregnant, you’re facing one of the most perplexing—and exhausting—PCOS hurdles.

Letrozole is a powerful medication, especially for women with PCOS, but ovulation is only part of the story.

Ready to turn the page?Contact a surrogacy specialist today, and let’s map out a path that finally turns hope into a heartbeat.

Ovulating on Letrozole But Not Getting Pregnant? PCOS May Be to Blame

Letrozole stimulates ovulation, particularly for women with PCOS. However, successful conception involves more than just ovulation.

Many PCOS patients have perfectly timed intercourse yet still face a blank pregnancy test. Why? Because chronic low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance alter the very genes that make the uterine lining “sticky.”

Research shows PCOS endometrium can express fewer integrins and HOXA-10 proteins, crucial for implantation.

Add a fibroid distorting the cavity, or a partner’s subtle DNA fragmentation, and the odds shrink further.

In other words, you can be ovulating on letrozole but not getting pregnant simply because the embryo’s landing pad or its chromosomal package isn’t quite right.

Learn How Embryo Implantation Works

Other Reasons Letrozole May Not Be Working

Here are some additional reasons letrozole might not lead to conception:

  • Luteal Phase Defect: The second half of your cycle may be too short to support implantation.
  • Endometrial Issues: Letrozole can thin the uterine lining, making implantation harder.
  • Poor Egg Quality: Ovulating doesn’t always mean the eggs are viable.
  • Male Factor Infertility: A semen analysis may uncover low motility or count.
  • Tubal Blockage: HSG tests can reveal whether the tubes are open.
  • Thyroid or Prolactin Levels: Hormonal imbalances can quietly interfere with conception.

If letrozole isn’t working on its own, the next step is simply about gathering more insight—answers that can help guide you toward a path that feels right and hopeful.

How Many Cycles of Letrozole Does it Take to Get Pregnant with PCOS?

Clinical registries reveal that 65–70 % of letrozole-related pregnancies arrive within the first three medicated cycles.

After the sixth cycle, success curves flatten, leading most reproductive endocrinologists—and the latest ASRM practice guidance—to recommend a strategy shift.

So if you’re ovulating on letrozole but not getting pregnant by cycle four, it’s less about “failure” and more about guarding your calendar, your finances, and your emotional bandwidth before moving to higher-yield options.

When IVF Protocol With Letrozole Is Failing

For some patients who are using letrozole in conjunction with IVF, especially those with a history of thin lining, poor ovarian response or PCOS, letrozole may not deliver the needed hormonal balance or follicular boost when used in antagonist IVF protocols.

In women with PCOS, additional complexities such as insulin resistance, higher baseline LH levels, or impaired endometrial receptivity may further diminish the efficacy of a Letrozole-based approach.

If you’ve experienced recurring implantation failure, it may be time to consider other options like surrogacy, which allows you to bypass the issues contributing to IVF failure.

If you’re utilizing IVF with letrozole for PCOS but not getting pregnant, learn more about when it may be time to consider other options.

Turning Frustration into Insight With Testing

A thorough work-up transforms guesswork into data-driven next steps. Your doctor may start with a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) to map your tubes, follow with a saline sonogram to spot polyps or scar tissue and finish with an expanded hormone and metabolic panel, including fasting insulin, thyroid antibodies and prolactin.

Each test asks a specific “why” behind ovulating on letrozole but not getting pregnant, revealing whether the hurdle lies in anatomy, metabolism or hormonal imbalances. Armed with answers, you can pivot confidently instead of circling the same protocol.

Treatment Power-Ups If You’re On Letrozole for PCOS But Not Pregnant

If you’re not pregnant after multiple letrozole cycles, consider these alternatives:

  • Metformin + Letrozole: Lowers insulin, improves egg mitochondria, and modestly bumps clinical pregnancy rates.
  • Low-Dose Gonadotropins: Adding tiny FSH doses can double conception odds versus letrozole alone in PCOS cohorts.
  • Progesterone Support: Extends a short luteal phase so the embryo isn’t evicted before it settles.
  • IVF + PGT-A: Bypasses tubal issues, selects chromosomally normal embryos and slashes miscarriage risk.
  • Donor Eggs/Embryos: A compassionate shortcut when egg quality—not uterine environment—is the root block.

When the egg quality roadblock just won’t budge, donor eggs or embryos can offer a compassionate and hopeful path forward, especially if the uterine environment is healthy.

Surrogacy Solutions if You’re Ovulating on Letrozole but Not Getting Pregnant with IVF

For some, the issue is no longer the egg—it’s the uterus. Years of PCOS-related hyperplasia, repeated D&C procedures or adenomyosis can make carrying a pregnancy medically risky or anatomically impossible.

When you’ve produced healthy embryos yet remain ovulating on letrozole but not getting pregnant, surrogacy becomes a logical, evidence-backed next step.

Your genetic or donor embryo is transferred into a carefully screened carrier whose uterus offers the receptivity yours lacks, turning decades of reproductive science into tomorrow’s baby shower.

If you’ve experienced IVF failure using letrozole for PCOS but still not pregnant, learn more about surrogacy after failed IVF.

American Surrogacy’s Blueprint to Growing Your Family

Choosing surrogacy is choosing partnership. We coordinate directly with your fertility clinic to secure embryo shipment, match you with a surrogate who has passed medical, psychological and background clearances and wrap the entire journey in legal and financial transparency.

You receive milestone updates—first heartbeat, anatomy scan, delivery plan—while your surrogate receives 24/7 support. It’s a dual-care model that keeps your dream and her wellbeing front and center, ensuring that being ovulating on letrozole but not getting pregnant is merely a chapter, not the ending.

Next-Step Action Plan

It’s okay to feel frustrated or exhausted after months (or years) of trying. But please know, even when letrozole isn’t’ successful, you still have options.

Whether your next step is more testing, a shift to IVF, or exploring surrogacy, you have choices—and you have support.

American Surrogacy can guide you through the possibilities surrogacy can bring with care and compassion.

Explore Our Surrogacy Programs

Who Is Affected by Social Infertility, and What Can Be Done?

Facing social infertility? Discover how surrogacy can help you build a family beyond societal and relational barriers.

A growing number of hopeful parents are facing barriers to building families, not because of medical infertility, but due to social infertility.

Social infertility affects many individuals and couples who are biologically able to have children but are held back by external circumstances. These may include relationship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or systemic policies that limit access to fertility care.

If you’re ready to explore inclusive options for becoming a parent, connect with a surrogacy specialist today — your journey starts here.

This article explores what social infertility is, who it affects, and how surrogacy offers a compassionate and empowering path forward for those ready to grow their families.

What Is Social Infertility?

Social infertility is the inability to conceive or carry a child due to social or relational circumstances rather than medical ones. This includes individuals who are healthy and fertile but face barriers because they are single, in same-sex relationships or in partnerships that lack biological compatibility.

Unlike medical infertility, which stems from physical conditions, social infertility arises from systemic limitation, including outdated clinic protocols, restrictive insurance policies and narrow definitions of family in reproductive care.

Who Is Affected by Social Infertility?

Several groups of people face social infertility:

  • Single individuals who want to raise a child but don’t have a partner and cannot access fertility treatment without one
  • Same-sex couples who require a combination of egg donors, sperm donors and/or gestational surrogates
  • Trans and non-binary individuals who may not be biologically compatible with their partners or may face discrimination
  • Families with financial limitations whose insurance may not cover fertility treatments unless a medical diagnosis is present

Despite rising awareness, social infertility often remains underrepresented in mainstream conversations. Many of these intended parents encounter extra emotional and logistical challenges on the road to family.

American Surrogacy welcomes all family structures. Whether you’re single, partnered or LGBTQ+, we ensure that your journey is supported with legal, emotional and logistical guidance every step of the way.

If you’re an LGBT parent wanting to grow your family, learn more about our programs for LGBT families.

Emotional Impact of Social Infertility

Experiencing social infertility can come with a wave of complex emotions:

  • Grief over not being able to pursue a traditional path to parenthood
  • Frustration when facing policies or systems that don’t reflect your reality
  • Loneliness, especially when there are few resources or communities that address your situation
  • Self-doubt rooted in societal stigma, leaving you wondering if your dream of parenthood is even possible

At American Surrogacy, we want to affirm that your desire to become a parent is valid and that your journey, while different, is no less worthy of support or celebration.

Why Social Infertility Matters

Social infertility is not just a personal issue. It reflects larger shifts in society that deserve recognition and response.

  • Changing Social Dynamics: More people are marrying later or not at all, yet still want children. In 2024, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the median age for first marriages is 28 for women and 30 for men.
  • LGBTQ+ Rights and Advocacy: While legal protections have improved, barriers persist. A 2022 report found that 36% of LGBTQ+ adults experienced discrimination in the past year.
  • Medical Industry Shift: Clinics and agencies are becoming more inclusive, but many are still structured around heterosexual couples.

Without visibility and acknowledgment, critical resources lag behind. Insurance coverage, legislation and support systems often fail to serve people experiencing social infertility. Greater awareness leads to better care for everyone.

How Surrogacy Can Help Hopeful Parents Facing Social Infertility

Surrogacy can be a powerful and empowering solution for people facing social infertility. It helps hopeful parents build families by offering a path that accommodates unique personal circumstances, including being single or part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Here’s how gestational surrogacy works:

  • Step 1: The intended parent(s) work with an agency to create a plan.
  • Step 2: If needed, they find an egg or sperm donor.
  • Step 3: An embryo is created through in vitro fertilization.
  • Step 4: The embryo is transferred to a gestational surrogate.
  • Step 5: The surrogate carries the pregnancy and delivers the baby.

If you’re concerned about budgeting for journey to parenthood, learn more about our affordable surrogacy options and other financing resources available to you.

Social Infertility Isn’t the End — Take the First Step Toward Parenthood

Experiencing social infertility doesn’t mean your dream of parenthood has to end — just that the path forward may look different.  If you’re ready to explore how surrogacy can support your parenting goals, we invite you to speak with a surrogacy specialist today.

Let’s create a path to parenthood that fits your life. Fill out our free form to get started today.