Patient: Dr. Malpani, I just had a miscarriage after my IVF cycle. I feel completely shattered. Why did this happen?
Dr. Malpani: I understand how heartbreaking this is. Please remember, you are not alone — miscarriages are very common. In fact, about 15% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, whether they’re conceived naturally or through IVF.
The most common cause is a genetic error in the embryo — something completely outside your control. Nature is very wise; this is her way of preventing the birth of an abnormal baby.
Patient: So it’s basically bad luck? Not something wrong with me or my uterus?
Dr. Malpani: Exactly. It’s usually just bad luck — what we call random genetic error. It doesn’t mean your uterus is weak, your hormones are imbalanced, or your immunity is overactive. Human reproduction, even in the best circumstances, is surprisingly inefficient.
When a pregnancy miscarries, it’s not because your body “rejected” the baby. It’s because the embryo had a defect that made further development impossible. It’s biology, not blame.
Patient: Should I do some tests to find out what went wrong — genetic, immune, or hormonal tests?
Dr. Malpani: That’s a very natural question. Everyone wants answers. But here’s the truth — after a single miscarriage, testing doesn’t help.
Good doctors will tell you not to waste your money, time, and energy chasing tests because the diagnostic yield is very poor. The tests are full of false positives and false negatives. They create a lot more noise than useful signal.
Sadly, some doctors exploit this emotional vulnerability by ordering expensive panels of “recurrent miscarriage” or “immune” tests that sound scientific but add zero value. These reports only confuse patients and push them toward unnecessary treatments.
Patient: But aren’t genetic or immune causes possible?
Dr. Malpani: They are possible — but extremely rare after a single miscarriage. These issues are usually suspected only when a woman has repeated miscarriages (three or more).
Doing these tests early makes no sense because:
The results rarely change your treatment plan.
The tests are not reliable or standardized.
The next pregnancy is far more likely to succeed naturally, regardless of the results.
You see, what we often forget is that chance and biology are messy. As Nassim Taleb puts it, we are often fooled by randomness. The randomness of human reproduction can’t be fully predicted or controlled — no matter how advanced the technology or how many tests are ordered.
Patient: So you’re saying my chances are still good?
Dr. Malpani: Absolutely! The fact that you conceived — even if it ended in a miscarriage — actually proves your body and your uterus can get pregnant. That’s a very positive sign.
In fact, your chances of having a healthy baby next time are more than 85%. You don’t need to lose hope or blame yourself. You just need to give yourself some time to heal physically and emotionally before trying again.
Patient: That’s reassuring to hear, but emotionally it’s been so hard.
Dr. Malpani: Of course. A miscarriage after IVF can feel like a cruel joke after all the effort you’ve put in. But remember — you did nothing wrong.
Grieve, take your time, but don’t let despair trick you into unnecessary tests or unscientific treatments.
Focus instead on evidence-based care, self-compassion, and a positive mindset for your next attempt. Nature may seem harsh, but she’s also forgiving. Most couples who face this heartbreak once will go on to have a perfectly healthy baby in the next cycle.
Dr. Malpani: Please get your doubts resolved free using our chatbot which is powered by AI based on Dr Malpani’s 40 years of clinical expertise and experience at https://www.drmalpani.com/chat-w-chatbot/index.html. This will ensure you’re on the right path and potentially save significant costs in the long run.