Why Did My IVF Pregnancy End in Miscarriage?
Patient: Dr Malpani, I recently had a miscarriage after my IVF cycle. I feel like my world has collapsed. Is this normal?
Dr. Malpani: I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Yes, unfortunately, it’s very common for women to feel shattered after a miscarriage—especially after IVF. You’ve invested so much emotionally and physically, and it feels like a dream has suddenly vanished.
Patient: I had already started planning my due date, baby clothes, everything. Is it wrong that I got so emotionally attached so quickly?
Dr. Malpani: Not at all. That’s completely human. When you see those two lines on a test or a beating heart on an ultrasound, it’s natural to feel joy and anticipation. IVF pregnancies are especially precious because they’re hard-won.
Patient: The worst part was going in for my scan and hearing, “There’s no heartbeat.” I felt like I had failed.
Dr. Malpani: That’s a very common response. But please remember—you didn’t fail. A miscarriage doesn’t mean you did something wrong. It often happens despite doing everything right.
Patient: But what if I caused it somehow? I went to work, carried groceries, had an argument… Could any of that have led to the miscarriage?
Dr. Malpani: No, absolutely not. Miscarriages are almost always due to genetic problems in the embryo. These are natural biological errors and cannot be prevented by bed rest, diet, or avoiding stress.
Patient: Still, people around me keep saying things like, “I told you to rest,” or “You were too stressed.” It makes me doubt myself even more.
Dr. Malpani: Sadly, that blame game is common. People don’t realise how damaging those remarks can be. It’s not only unfair—it’s also completely medically incorrect. You must not let others—or yourself—take on this guilt.
Patient: So lifting weights or having a small fight with my partner wouldn’t affect implantation or cause miscarriage?
Dr. Malpani: Correct. None of those things cause miscarriage. Whether you conceive in your bedroom or via IVF, the risk remains the same. And the cause—more often than not—is a chromosomal issue in the embryo.
Patient: Why didn’t IVF protect me from this? I thought IVF meant everything would be monitored and under control.
Dr. Malpani: That’s a common misconception. IVF helps us control the process up to implantation—but it cannot eliminate natural risks like embryo abnormalities. IVF doesn’t reduce miscarriage risk—it only helps us create embryos.
Patient: I’m 39. Does my age increase the chances of miscarriage?
Dr. Malpani: Yes, age is a key factor. The older the eggs, the higher the chance of genetic problems in the embryo. That’s why miscarriage is more common in older women—not because of IVF, but because of egg age.
Patient: So IVF success rates are lower for older women because of these risks?
Dr. Malpani: Exactly. Age affects both the number and quality of eggs. While IVF can bypass some physical infertility barriers, it cannot reverse biological ageing of eggs. That’s why transparency and realistic expectations are important.
Patient: Thank you, Dr Malpani. This conversation helped me feel lighter. What can I do next?
Dr Malpani: You’re very welcome. You are not alone, and there is still hope. If you’d like a free second opinion, visit: www.drmalpani.com/free-second-opinion Or if you'd prefer a one-on-one discussion with me, you can book a video consultation here: bit.ly/consult-drmalpani
We’ll go over your medical details, review what went wrong, and plan the best way forward for you—without guilt, shame, or false hope.