Swara Bhasker, who recently went viral for her remarks on the reality show Rise and Fall 2, has opened up about a part of her fertility journey that many women quietly experience but rarely discuss publicly – failed IVF attempts. The actor, 38, revealed that she underwent two unsuccessful IVF rounds before eventually meeting her husband Fahad Ahmad. Her experience also highlights an important reality about fertility treatment: IVF can significantly improve the chances of pregnancy, but it does not guarantee one.
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So, What Happens When An IVF Cycle Fails?
According to Dr. Shruti Salampuria Sawant, Associate Fertility Specialist at Aksigen IVF, the first step should be understanding why the cycle was unsuccessful rather than immediately repeating the treatment. “When an IVF cycle doesn’t work, the most important question is not ‘what next?’ but ‘why?’” she says.
An IVF cycle involves several stages, from stimulating the ovaries and retrieving eggs to fertilisation, embryo development and, eventually, transferring an embryo into the uterus. A setback can occur at any of these stages. Egg quality, sperm factors, fertilisation, embryo development, implantation and individual clinical factors can all play a role.
Dr. Sawant explains that an unsuccessful cycle can actually provide doctors with information about where the challenge may have occurred. “An unsuccessful cycle is not simply an outcome, it can provide important information that helps us understand where the challenge may lie, whether with egg or sperm factors, embryo development, implantation, or other individual clinical factors.” For patients, however, the experience can be emotionally difficult. Dr Nandita Palshetkar, infertility specialist and Scientific Director & Head of the Bloom IVF Unit at Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai, says the first step is not to turn that disappointment inward. “When IVF is unsuccessful, the first thing I tell my patients is, please do not blame yourself. One unsuccessful cycle does not define your ability to have a baby.”
Importantly, a failed attempt does not automatically mean that IVF will never work. It also does not mean that a patient necessarily needs every available fertility test or treatment. “The next step should therefore not be to simply repeat the same treatment,” Dr. Sawant says. Depending on the individual situation, doctors may consider modifying the stimulation protocol, conducting further evaluation or taking a different approach altogether.
Age Is Another Important Factor
Egg quantity and quality tend to decline with age. However, IVF outcomes vary considerably between individuals, which is why doctors generally assess a person’s complete fertility history rather than relying on age alone. Dr. Palshetkar notes that ovarian ageing can vary between individuals, meaning some younger women may have reduced ovarian reserve or egg quality that is more commonly associated with advancing age.”
Another important part of the process is understanding what is known, and what isn’t. Fertility medicine continues to evolve, and not every additional test or treatment offered alongside IVF has strong evidence behind it. Dr. Sawant stresses the importance of being transparent with patients: “It is important to be transparent with patients about what is established, what remains uncertain and why a particular option is being considered, rather than presenting every test or intervention as necessary.” For someone going through IVF, a failed cycle can be emotionally difficult as well as physically and financially demanding. Understanding what happened can therefore be an important part of deciding whether to try again.
“When couples understand what may have contributed to an unsuccessful cycle and why their next treatment plan may be different, they are better equipped to participate in decisions about their care,” Dr Sawant says. Ultimately, IVF is not a simple equation where one unsuccessful attempt automatically predicts the next outcome. For some people, the first cycle provides information that helps doctors refine subsequent treatment. As Dr. Sawant puts it, “An unsuccessful IVF cycle should be viewed as an opportunity to learn, reassess and refine the approach and not simply repeat it.”
Swara Bhasker’s decision to speak about her two failed attempts brings attention to a reality behind the often-simplified idea of IVF: fertility treatment can involve uncertainty, multiple attempts and difficult decisions before a successful pregnancy occurs.
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