For me it came down to whether I still had it in me emotionally, physically and financially. The failed cycles were heartbreaking, but I also didn't want to make a decision in the middle of that grief. I took a step back, gave myself some time, and then decided what I could realistically cope with. It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make.
This was one of the hardest parts of IVF for me. I found that each failed cycle moved the goalposts a little. At first I had a specific number in mind, but after every setback I'd tell myself I could handle just one more retrieval or one more transfer. Eventually I realized the decision wasn't really about a fixed number of cycles, it was about whether I still felt physically, financially and emotionally able to continue. I'm curious how others knew they had truly reached their limit.
I remember feeling that same uncertainty during the fertility journey because every failed cycle brings a lot of emotional and mental exhaustion. I realised it is such a personal decision and there is no fixed point where everyone feels ready to stop. For many people it comes down to their emotional strength, finances, health, and having an honest conversation about what feels right for them.
This question scares me more than IVF itself sometimes. I honestly don't know if i'd ever feel ready to say enough is enough. I feel like every failed cycle would make me want to try just one more time, but i know there has to be a limit somewhere. How did u know u'd reached yours?