Many intended parents are surprised by how few embryos remain after starting with what seemed like a strong egg retrieval.
Whether you’re still early in your fertility journey or considering next steps like surrogacy, knowing how embryo development works can bring clarity—and hope.
This article is here to help you understand what’s typical, why numbers drop at each stage, and what your options are if you have fewer embryos than expected.
Left with few or no embryos? Read more about how embryos develop by day.
How Many Embryos Are Normal for IVF?
The average number of embryos from IVF can vary significantly depending on the age of the person producing the eggs, the clinic’s protocols, and the underlying fertility diagnosis.
Generally, a woman under 35 might produce 10–15 eggs from a single retrieval cycle, but only a portion of those will fertilize and develop into viable embryos.
Typically, this results in 3–5 good-quality embryos per cycle. It’s important to note that what’s considered “normal” is a range—not a fixed number—and quantity doesn’t always equate to quality.
Intended parents often feel blindsided by the drop-off.
“I wasn’t prepared for the attrition,” says one IVF patient in a popular Reddit thread. “Each update call felt like another letdown.”
What feels “normal” for one patient might feel heartbreaking for another. The key is to understand that variation is expected, and early embryo loss is a normal part of the process.
Why Did I Get So Few Embryos from IVF? Understanding IVF Attrition
It’s one of the hardest questions to ask and even harder to answer when you’re holding test results and feeling heartbroken: Why did I get so few embryos from IVF?
But having fewer embryos than expected doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. Many factors influence embryo yield, including:
- Egg quality
- Sperm health
- Age of the egg provider
- How your body responded to ovarian stimulation
- Lab conditions and culture protocols
- Genetic abnormalities in the embryos
Speak with your fertility specialist about whether adjustments can be made in future cycles or if options like donor gametes or surrogacy might be part of your path forward.
How Many Embryos Make It to Day 5?
It’s common to see only 30–50% of fertilized eggs make it to day 5. That means if 10 eggs are retrieved and 8 are fertilized, you might end up with just 2–4 day-5 blastocysts.
But this part of the process, as painful as it can be, is nature making difficult choices—selecting only the embryos most likely to thrive.
While that may offer some context, it doesn’t make the emotional toll any less real. Your grief is valid, and so is your strength in facing it.
Coping With Early Embryo Loss: When the Hope You Held Feels Out of Reach
Even before an embryo transfer occurs, intended parents can experience profound grief and loss.
Losing embryos early in the IVF process, whether they fail to fertilize, arrest before day 5 or are deemed non-viable after genetic testing can be deeply emotional.
These losses may feel invisible to others, but they are very real for intended parents. It’s okay to grieve the loss of possibility, even if you hadn’t yet reached transfer.
Here are some strategies to help cope with early embryo loss:
- Acknowledge your grief. Give yourself permission to feel the loss.
- Seek support. Talk to a therapist who specializes in fertility or join a support group.
- Stay informed. Understanding why embryos are lost can help reduce feelings of helplessness.
- Focus on next steps. Whether it’s another IVF cycle or exploring surrogacy, planning can be empowering.
- Connect with others: You can talk with other hopeful parents who have experienced difficulties with IVF on forums or subreddits.
Remember: you are not alone. Early embryo loss is common, but with the right support and guidance, your path forward is still full of possibility.
Online Communities You Can Connect With
Infertility is a personal journey, but it doesn’t have to be an isolating one. There are many online communities who have experienced hardship similar to yours. Here are some subreddits you can consider:
Only One Embryo Survived, What Can We Do?
If you’re left with only one embryo after IVF, it’s natural to feel anxious. That one embryo may feel like your only chance.
But one embryo can be enough—especially if you give it the best possible conditions for implantation and growth.
That’s why many intended parents with one embryo turn to surrogacy. With the help of a healthy, fully screened gestational carrier, your embryo may have a significantly higher chance of success than if you carried yourself—particularly if you’ve had failed cycles or uterine health concerns.
At American Surrogacy, we are one of the only agencies that proudly work with intended parents with just one embryo. We understand the emotional weight of that final embryo, and we know how to give it the best chance for success.
Learn more about our programs for families with one embryo left.
Planning Ahead: What to Do If IVF Fails
If your cycle didn’t result in a pregnancy or you’re preparing for that outcome, planning ahead can help you feel more in control.
Talk with your fertility team about:
- Whether another cycle is advisable
- Using donor eggs or sperm
- The quality and viability of any remaining embryos
- Surrogacy or adoption as your next step
You may have more options than you think, even if the path looks different than expected.
How Surrogacy Can Support IVF Success
Surrogacy isn’t a backup plan; it can be a breakthrough for families with limited embryos.
Working with a gestational carrier can:
- Improve implantation odds when uterine conditions are a concern
- Offer peace of mind by providing a medically cleared environment
- Reduce emotional strain after multiple failed cycles
At American Surrogacy, we are one of the only agencies that proudly support intended parents with just one embryo remaining.
We understand what’s at stake—and we have built a streamlined program to meet you where you are.
If you’ve tried IVF multiple times without success, or if your clinic has expressed concern about your ability to carry, surrogacy could be the safest and most hopeful next chapter.
Your Options with American Surrogacy
At American Surrogacy, we understand that every embryo carries enormous emotional weight—especially when it may be your last.
That’s why we’ve designed our program to support intended parents navigating IVF attrition:
- We welcome clients with a single embryo
- Our surrogates are fully screened and medically ready
- We move quickly to match and support you at every step
We’ll walk beside you with empathy, experience, and clarity—so your last embryo feels like a new beginning, not the end.
Contact American Surrogacy today to explore how surrogacy can give your embryo its best possible chance at becoming the child you’ve been hoping for.