Women in their early thirties are generally better off than women in their late thirties as ovarian reserve declines sharply in the late thirties. For example, a woman at 30 often has around 100,000-150,000 eggs in reserve. By 35, that number is likely around 80,000.
After the age of 30, the number of eggs a woman has reduces significantly. After 30 it goes to 20% chance of pregnancy with around 100,000 eggs, 31 it goes to 80,000, 32 to 75,000 and at 35 around 50,000. After 35 your chance of pregnancy drops further to around 25,000 by 37 years of age.
Andrews and Edinburgh University in Scotland found that women have lost 90 percent of their eggs by the time they are 30 years old, and only have about 3 percent remaining by the time they are 40.
Women lose 90 per cent of the eggs in their ovaries before the age of 30, new research has shown. The mathematical model shows that the average woman has only 12 per cent of her eggs left by the age of 30 and only three per cent by the age of 40.
ACOG states that a female's fertility gradually and significantly drops around age 32. They will have around 120,000 eggs, with a 20% chance of conceiving per cycle. ACOG further states that a female will experience a rapid decline by age 37, when egg count drops to around 25,000.
Egg quality and quantity also decline in a woman's 30s and 40s. While the total number of eggs cannot be increased, research has shown that egg quality can be improved. Supplements containing Myo-inositol, folic acid and melatonin have been shown to help improve egg quality and ovarian function.
Amy Schumer's IVF cycle resulted in one viable embryo even though 35 eggs were retrieved after simulation, she revealed via an Instagram post on Saturday. The comedienne is upbeat and feels lucky to have one good embryo but also realizes the steep drop from the number of eggs.
But age 35 is not without significance. Fertility declines with age due to two factors: a decrease in egg count, as women lose eggs each month; and a decrease in egg quality, as naturally, with age, their eggs are more likely to contain chromosomal abnormalities (mistakes in their DNA).
The AMH blood test has become more common in the past 15 years, but another way to determine a woman's ovarian reserve is to conduct an antral follicle count during a transvaginal ultrasound. This method, which entails counting the follicles seen on the screen, is also useful, along with AMH, explains Amanda N.
A woman is born with all her eggs. Once she starts her periods, 1 egg develops and is released during each menstrual cycle.
On average, women in their mid 20s to early 30s have around 12 to 30 antral follicles, while women aged 35 to 40 may have between 8 and 15 and women aged 41 to 46 may have somewhere between four and 10.
Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) test
In particular, we test for anti-mullerian hormone produced by immature, small ovarian follicles. If your AMH level is 1.5 ng/ml or higher, your egg supply is normal. But if it dips below that level, you have a lower-than-normal egg quantity.
In addition to its well-established role in neural tube defect prevention, research suggests folate plays an important role in promoting egg quality, maturation and implantation.
By 30, a woman's fertility starts to decline, and after 35 the rate accelerates. Specifically, before 30, women have an 85 percent chance of conceiving within a year; at 30, those odds drop to 75 percent; and at 35 the chance drops to 66 percent, research has found.
At 35, most have a 15% to 20% chance of getting pregnant in a given month. That could mean a 78% chance of conceiving within the year. But 35 seems to be the point where fertility for people with ovaries does decline.
So as you get older, you have fewer and fewer eggs, and the eggs you have aren't easily fertilized by a man's sperm. All this makes it harder for you to get pregnant. If you're older than 35 and have been trying for 6 months to get pregnant, tell your health care provider.
IVF Success Rates by Age
For women younger than 35, the percentage of live births per egg retrieval is 54.5%. For women ages 35 to 37, the percentage of live births per egg retrieval is 41.1%. For women ages 38 to 40, the percentage of live births per egg retrieval is 26.7%.
Women under the age of 35 are the most likely to benefit from a six-cycle regimen. Women 40-42 (using their own eggs) had a 31.5% live birth rate at the six-cycle mark.
People do it so many times. I did it one time and I was like, I'm gonna die. This is awful," she said. "I got like 31 eggs and I was like, I'm Fertile Myrtle.