There’s a strange stretch of time after an embryo transfer when there’s really nothing left to do but wait.
By that point, there have usually been weeks of medications and appointments just to get to the transfer itself. For a surrogate and intended parents who may have spent months, sometimes years, getting to this point, it can feel like everything is riding on one pregnancy test.
Sometimes, that test is negative.
A failed embryo transfer can be incredibly disappointing, but it doesn’t necessarily mean something has gone wrong, that anyone has done anything wrong, or that the surrogacy journey is over.
So what actually happens next?
What happens after a failed embryo transfer? The quick answer
If an embryo transfer fails during a surrogacy journey, the next steps will usually include:
- The fertility clinic confirms the result with a pregnancy or beta hCG test
- The surrogate is advised when to stop IVF medications
- The clinic reviews the transfer cycle and embryo information
- The surrogate’s body is given time to return to its normal cycle
- The fertility specialist decides whether any further investigation is needed
- Another embryo transfer may be recommended
- The timing or medication protocol for the next transfer may be adjusted
- Compensation and expenses are handled according to the surrogacy agreement
- The surrogate and intended parents have some time to process the result
- If transfers repeatedly fail, the fertility specialist may recommend further investigation before trying again
The important thing to know is that one failed embryo transfer doesn’t automatically mean there’s a problem with the surrogate, the embryo or the IVF protocol.
Sometimes an embryo simply doesn’t implant. It can be incredibly frustrating when there isn’t a clear reason why, but unsuccessful transfers are a recognised part of IVF.
First, what does a failed embryo transfer actually mean?
A failed embryo transfer means the transferred embryo didn’t successfully implant and establish a pregnancy.
After an embryo is transferred into the surrogate’s uterus, implantation needs to occur before the body begins producing enough human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to confirm a pregnancy.
This is why clinics schedule a blood test, commonly called a beta hCG test, after the transfer rather than relying on symptoms or an early home pregnancy test.
If you’re relatively new to IVF, there can be a lot of terminology to get your head around. Our guide to common IVF and surrogacy terms explains beta tests, embryo grading, PGT and plenty of the other acronyms you’ll hear along the way.
And while it’s completely natural to want an explanation immediately after a negative result, there often isn’t one obvious reason.
Why do embryo transfers fail?
Chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo are considered a major cause of implantation failure, although there are other reasons an embryo may not implant.
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), age-related aneuploidy, where an embryo has an abnormal number of chromosomes, is generally believed to be the principal cause of implantation failure.
Other factors relating to the embryo, uterine environment, endometrial lining and transfer cycle may also play a role.
Even when an embryo has been genetically tested and everything about the transfer looks good, implantation still isn’t guaranteed.
ASRM reports that a single transfer of a chromosomally normal, or euploid, embryo results in a positive pregnancy test in around 45% to 80% of transfers, depending on factors including embryo characteristics.
Which is another way of saying: even a very promising embryo can fail to implant.
And that can be a particularly important thing for surrogates to hear.
Is a failed embryo transfer the surrogate’s fault?
No. A failed embryo transfer does not mean the surrogate did something wrong.
It’s very easy to replay the days after transfer and wonder if something you did mattered. Maybe you walked too much, picked up your toddler or ate something you’re now questioning. When everyone has invested so much in getting to this point, it’s understandable that your mind goes looking for a reason.
But implantation is a complex biological process, and the embryo itself is a major part of whether implantation succeeds.
Follow the clinic’s instructions around medication, activity and care, of course. But if an embryo doesn’t implant, that doesn’t mean you failed at being a surrogate.
There’s a reason we call it a failed transfer, not a failed surrogate.
What happens with IVF medications after a failed transfer?
After a negative pregnancy test, the fertility clinic will tell the surrogate when to stop her IVF medications.
Don’t stop medication early because of spotting, symptoms or a negative home pregnancy test. (We know the temptation.)
The clinic needs to confirm the result first.
Once medications are stopped, a period will usually follow and the medical team can begin planning what comes next. The exact timing depends on the surrogate, the protocol used and the clinic’s recommendations.
You can see where embryo transfer sits within the broader journey in our step-by-step guide to the surrogacy process.
What if the pregnancy test is positive, but the pregnancy doesn’t progress?
Sometimes an embryo does implant enough to produce hCG and an initial pregnancy test is positive, but the pregnancy stops developing before it can be confirmed on ultrasound. This is commonly called a biochemical or chemical pregnancy.
It’s slightly different from an embryo that doesn’t implant at all, although emotionally the outcome can feel very similar.
ASRM’s review helps show the distinction. Studies of single euploid embryo transfers reported positive pregnancy tests in around 45% to 80% of transfers, while clinical intrauterine pregnancy rates ranged from approximately 30% to 80%.
If beta hCG is detected, the clinic may repeat blood tests to see whether levels are rising as expected before confirming the pregnancy by ultrasound.
Again, this is one of those situations where the clinic needs to guide what happens next.
Can you try another embryo transfer?
Yes. Another embryo transfer is often possible after an unsuccessful first transfer.
In many cases, the fertility specialist will review the cycle and then recommend another transfer rather than immediately beginning extensive testing.
This is an important distinction because one unsuccessful transfer isn’t considered the same thing as recurrent implantation failure.
ASRM’s 2026 guidance notes that when no obvious correctable cause is identified, extensive testing may be unnecessary and proceeding with additional embryo transfers can be reasonable.
In other words, sometimes the next step really is to try again.
How soon can a surrogate have another embryo transfer?
Another embryo transfer may be possible once the surrogate has recovered from the previous cycle and the IVF clinic has cleared her to begin again.
There isn’t one standard waiting period.
For some journeys, another transfer may happen relatively quickly once the surrogate’s cycle has reset. In others, the clinic may want more time to review the previous cycle, repeat testing or make changes before trying again.
The number of embryos available can affect the timeline too. So can how everyone is feeling about moving forward.
There’s no prize for getting to the next transfer fastest. The important thing is that the surrogate is medically ready and everyone understands the plan before trying again.
Will the clinic change anything before the next transfer?
The IVF clinic may change the protocol before another embryo transfer, although a change isn’t automatically necessary after one failed transfer.
The fertility specialist may review the embryo and any genetic testing, along with the surrogate’s uterine lining, hormone levels, medication timing and how the transfer itself went.
Sometimes that review leads to a change. Other times, everything looked exactly as it should and the clinic recommends essentially the same protocol again.
It can feel slightly unsatisfying to hear “we try again” when you desperately want a reason. But IVF doesn’t always provide one.
Does one failed transfer mean there’s an implantation problem?
No. One failed embryo transfer does not mean a surrogate has recurrent implantation failure.
ASRM looks at recurrent implantation failure, or RIF, in the context of repeated unsuccessful transfers and the cumulative likelihood that implantation should have occurred.
Current research suggests RIF may be considered after around three to six failed transfers of euploid embryos, although the point at which further investigation is appropriate depends on the individual circumstances and the embryos transferred.
That distinction matters.
One unsuccessful transfer can be incredibly disappointing, but medically it can still fall within the expected realities of IVF.
What happens to surrogate compensation if the embryo transfer fails?
A failed embryo transfer can affect the timing of surrogate compensation, but the exact financial implications depend on the individual surrogacy agreement.
Surrogacy agreements can include different payments, allowances and reimbursements throughout the journey, with particular payments triggered at different stages.
If a transfer doesn’t result in pregnancy, any payments or reimbursements already earned are handled according to the terms of the agreement. Pregnancy-related compensation that hasn’t yet been triggered may simply not have started.
This is why both the surrogate and intended parents have independent legal representation before an embryo transfer takes place. Our step-by-step surrogate process explains where legal contracts and independent representation fit into the journey.
Nobody should be trying to work out what a failed transfer means financially for the first time after receiving a negative result.
You can also read more about how surrogate compensation works.
What if there are no embryos left?
For intended parents, this can make a failed transfer particularly difficult.
If there are frozen embryos remaining, the conversation may move toward another transfer. If there aren’t, the intended parents will need to speak with their fertility specialist about what needs to happen before the surrogacy journey can continue.
That could involve another IVF cycle or, depending on their circumstances, using donor eggs or sperm. It could also mean taking some time before deciding what comes next.
For the surrogate, there may be a period of waiting while those decisions are made.
Communication becomes especially important here. Everyone should understand the options, what the likely timeline looks like and whether they’re comfortable continuing the journey together.
The emotional side of a failed embryo transfer
A failed transfer can land differently for the surrogate and intended parents.
For intended parents, that embryo may represent years of fertility treatment, egg retrievals, donor decisions, waiting and hope. The negative result can feel much bigger than a single unsuccessful medical procedure.
A surrogate can be deeply disappointed too, and guilt sometimes creeps in even when she knows logically that the result wasn’t her fault.
Then there’s the slightly awkward reality that everyone may be trying to make everyone else feel okay.
Sometimes it helps simply to acknowledge that it’s disappointing, and it’s okay to feel disappointed.
You don’t have to immediately turn a negative pregnancy test into optimism about the next transfer. Give everyone a little room to process it first. The conversation about what comes next can happen when you’re ready.
Having people around you who understand the journey can make a real difference too. We’ve written more about support during a surrogacy journey and the role family and friends can play along the way.
What if embryo transfers keep failing?
Repeated failed embryo transfers warrant a different conversation from one unsuccessful transfer.
If several transfers haven’t resulted in implantation, the fertility specialist may recommend a more detailed review based on the embryos transferred, the surrogate’s medical history and what happened during previous cycles.
But more testing isn’t automatically better testing.
ASRM’s 2026 guidance found insufficient evidence to support the routine use of a number of tests and treatments sometimes suggested for recurrent implantation failure. These include endometrial receptivity analysis (ERA), endometrial scratching, BCL-6 testing and sperm DNA fragmentation testing, among others.
That doesn’t mean a fertility specialist will never recommend additional investigation. It means the right tests depend on the individual situation rather than there being a standard checklist everyone should work through after a failed transfer.
This is one of those moments where TikTok, Reddit and a late-night Google spiral can produce a very long list of things you suddenly think you need tested.
Let the fertility specialist guide that conversation.
What happens next for the surrogate and intended parents?
After a failed embryo transfer, the next step is usually to understand the options and decide when everyone is ready to move forward.
The clinic will review the medical side and explain whether another transfer is recommended and when it could happen. Your surrogacy team can help everyone understand the timeline, while the surrogacy agreement determines any financial implications.
The surrogate and intended parents may not process the result in exactly the same way, or on exactly the same timeline. That’s completely understandable.
A failed embryo transfer is disappointing, but it’s also one of the possibilities everyone should understand before beginning surrogacy. Being prepared for it doesn’t make you pessimistic. It simply means that if it does happen, everyone has a clearer idea of what comes next.
If you’re considering becoming a surrogate and want to understand more about what the journey involves, you can start with our surrogate eligibility questionnaire or explore our surrogacy resources.
FAQs about failed embryo transfers in surrogacy
What happens if the first embryo transfer fails during surrogacy?
The fertility clinic will confirm the negative pregnancy result, advise the surrogate when to stop IVF medications and review the transfer cycle. Depending on the circumstances, the clinic may recommend another embryo transfer once the surrogate is medically ready.
How common is a failed embryo transfer?
Embryo transfers don’t always result in pregnancy, even when a genetically tested embryo is used. ASRM reports positive pregnancy rates of approximately 45% to 80% following single euploid embryo transfers in published studies, depending on several embryo-related factors.
Can a surrogate have a second embryo transfer?
Yes. A surrogate can often undergo another embryo transfer after an unsuccessful transfer, provided the fertility clinic medically clears her to proceed and the surrogate and intended parents wish to continue the journey.
How long do you wait after a failed embryo transfer to try again?
There isn’t one waiting period that applies to every surrogate. Another transfer may be possible after the surrogate’s cycle has reset, but the timing depends on the IVF protocol, whether further assessment is required and the fertility clinic’s recommendations.
Does a failed embryo transfer mean something is wrong with the surrogate?
No. A single failed embryo transfer does not mean there is something wrong with the surrogate. Chromosomal abnormalities in embryos are considered a major cause of implantation failure, and even euploid embryos don’t implant every time.
Does a surrogate still get paid if the embryo transfer fails?
Surrogate compensation after a failed embryo transfer depends on the individual surrogacy agreement. Payments, allowances, reimbursements and the start of pregnancy-related compensation may be treated differently, so the agreement should clearly explain what happens if a transfer doesn’t result in pregnancy.
What is a biochemical pregnancy after embryo transfer?
A biochemical or chemical pregnancy occurs when implantation produces enough hCG for an initial positive pregnancy test, but the pregnancy stops developing before it can be confirmed clinically by ultrasound.
What happens if there are no embryos left after a failed surrogate transfer?
The intended parents will need to discuss their options with their fertility specialist. Depending on their circumstances, this may involve creating additional embryos through another IVF cycle or donor treatment before another surrogate embryo transfer can take place.
How many failed embryo transfers before further testing is needed?
There isn’t one number that applies to everyone. Current ASRM guidance suggests recurrent implantation failure may be considered after approximately three to six failed transfers of euploid embryos, although the decision to investigate further should consider the embryos transferred and the individual medical circumstances.
A note about embryo transfer protocols
Every fertility clinic has its own protocols around embryo transfer, medications, testing and when another transfer should be attempted. NewGen Families works alongside the IVF clinic involved in each journey and follows its medical guidance, rather than providing medical advice or directing treatment.
What we can do is make sure everyone knows what’s happening, understands what comes next and feels comfortable asking questions when something isn’t clear.
Because a negative pregnancy test is difficult enough without uncertainty being added to it.
This article provides general information about failed embryo transfers during gestational surrogacy in the United States and isn’t a substitute for individual medical or legal advice.
