Getting a Medellín IVF Second Opinion After a Failed Cycle
What to bring, what a new clinic can reasonably learn from the old cycle and which questions are more useful than 'why didn't it work?'
A failed cycle is data, but not always an explanation
An IVF cycle can fail at different stages: limited ovarian response, no or low fertilization, embryo-development problems, no transferable embryo, failed implantation, miscarriage or another issue. A second opinion is most useful when the new physician can see where the pathway changed.
The goal is not to force a definitive cause when biology does not provide one. It is to identify what is known, what is uncertain and whether the next plan should be different.
Bring the embryology report, not just the medication calendar
Ask the previous clinic for stimulation doses, monitoring results, trigger details, retrieval report, egg maturity numbers, fertilization method, fertilization results, embryo-development notes, PGT results if applicable and transfer details.
Those data let a second clinic review the full chain rather than guessing from the final negative pregnancy test.
Ask what the new clinic would actually change
A useful second opinion should distinguish changes with a specific rationale from changes made merely to be different. Ask why a new protocol, ICSI, PGT-A, different culture strategy or additional test is expected to address something observed in the prior cycle.
If an expensive add-on is proposed, ask for evidence relevant to your situation.
Do not let disappointment create travel urgency
After a failed cycle, it is understandable to want to book the next attempt immediately. A cross-border trip adds financial and emotional momentum.
Get the records, have the clinical review and understand the next plan before paying the next travel deposit.
Questions worth sending the clinic
- At what stage did the prior cycle stop progressing?
- Which parts of the previous plan would you keep?
- Which parts would you change, and why?
- Are any new tests or add-ons supported by a specific finding?
- Do I need another retrieval, or are frozen embryos still available for transfer?
Want help figuring out the next step?
Use email or WhatsApp. Everything else is optional. Please keep detailed medical records for a clinic's secure clinical channel.
Sources & verification
- CDC — How to Interpret ART Success Rates
- HFEA — 2026 statement on fertility treatment add-ons
- HFEA — Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
- HFEA — PGT-A evidence review
Cross-border treatment rules, clinic policies and evidence reviews can change. Re-check primary sources and the clinic's current written policy before making a decision.