Realistically, you can always undergo IVF unless you have experienced ovarian failure and/or menopause. However, pregnancy success rates using your own eggs drops considerably for women over 40.
IVF Success Rates 38 to 40
For women aged 38 to 40, the success rate is 26.8%, which is a considerable decline from 35 to 37 years of age. For 22.3% of women in this category, the first embryo transfer results in a live birth.
Guidelines to healthcare professionals recommend that women up to the age of 40 should be offered three cycles of IVF and women up to the age of 42 should be offered one cycle of IVF. However these are only guidelines so you'll need to check what's available in your local area and whether you meet eligibility criteria.
For patients aged 38-40, and 41-42, ASRM states that no more than three and five cleavage-stage embryos, respectively, should be transferred. Patients, who have failed two or more IVF cycles or have a less favourable prognosis, can receive an additional embryo.
IVF can however help improve chances of successfully conceiving a healthy baby, even after 40 years. the procedures of egg retrieval and screening of embryos can help improve pregnancy outcomes.
At an average, your chances of getting pregnant at 40 with Natural IVF* is 9%, whilst your chances with Mild IVF* are 20%. However, it is important to note that your chance of IVF success is dependent on your own specific circumstances.
In Australia, the latest success rate for IVF for women under 30 is 21.2 per cent (as of 2017). However, this drops to 16.5 per cent for women between 35 to 39 and plummets to just 5.2 per cent for women between 40 to 44.
Studies show that women in their 20s and 30s have the most success when getting pregnant through IVF and other reproductive technologies. According to the CDC, the average percentages of assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles that lead to a live birth are: 31% in women younger than 35 years of age.
Additional research shows that maternal age may not be a relevant factor in determining IVF success, so if your main concern is fresh vs. frozen IVF over 40 years old then it's worth noting that the process you choose shouldn't make a big difference in the outcome.
Research still shows that transferring one embryo per cycle is the safest option. Transferring two increases the chance of a multiple pregnancy and associated complications. (Not by a huge margin, but the risk is still significant.) These include pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and premature birth.
Overall, first-time IVF success rates often fall between 25-30% for most intended parents. However, this probability tends to increase after multiple IVF cycles.
How Many IVF Cycles Should You Try Before Stopping. In the past, most doctors discourage woman from continuing in treatment using their own eggs after about 3 to 4 failed IVF cycles.
IVF Treatment through our Bulk Billed Program is only available to women who are under 45 years of age or younger (at the time of egg collection). We do however have Donor Egg and Surrogacy Programs associated with our Full Service Fertility Treatment Program.
As you can see in the graph below, 48 per cent of women who were aged 30-31 when they started treatment had a baby after one stimulated cycle. This increased to 61 per cent after two cycles and 67 per cent after three cycles. This measurement is known as the 'cumulative live birth rate'.
Over the years, there have been significant improvements in frozen embryo babies. As per statistics, frozen embryo babies tend to be healthier without any risk of cancer in babies. Furthermore, the advancement in technology is playing an important role in saving the lives of the mother and child.
Most fertility clinics set an age limit, often between 42 and 45 years old, for a woman to use her own eggs. However, the ASRM committee opinion concludes that "limited treatment may be provided after a process of explicit education and examination of values." This treatment may be successful.
Overall, IVF success rates are only slightly lower for second attempts as compared to first IVF tries.
When the procedure is performed above this age, the chances of successful livebirth are significantly reduced. Previous research and advice has recommended that women should freeze their eggs before the age of 35, with emphasis placed on the number of good eggs successfully frozen.
The entire lab is critical to the success of IVF. The last step that is the embryo transfer, many believe it to be the most critical step of IVF, the determining factor for the success of IVF.
Embryo Transfer – Some believe the embryo transfer process is the most critical step in the entire process of IVF treatments. The health of embryos and successful implant in the uterus depend on a flawless transfer. Any snag with timing or biological factors can be detrimental to the process.
If you turn 40 during a cycle of IVF, you can finish the current full cycle but you should not be offered further cycles. You will still be able to have any frozen embryos transferred from your most recent episode of ovarian stimulation since these count as part of the same full cycle.
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. Women older than 42 (using their own eggs) had a <4% live birth rate at the six-cycle mark.
Not only is Mini IVF the best treatment protocol for women over 39. Other women can benefit from this holistic IVF alternative, Including: Women suffering from tubal factor infertility. Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) who produce over 15 eggs but are low quality.