IVF is the most successful for women between the ages of 24 and 35, because these are the years when female fertility is highest. However, it is not impossible for older women to conceive with IVF, especially if they use donor eggs.
IVF success depends on several factors, including age, reproductive history, ovulation problems and egg and embryo quality.
Age and IVF Success Rates
Women in their early 30s have the highest chances of IVF success because this is the age range when women are at peak fertility. When a woman reaches her 40s, her chances of becoming pregnant start to decrease.
This is because older women tend to have fewer eggs retrieved during the egg retrieval process. Moreover, the eggs that they do retrieve may have a higher likelihood of being chromosomally abnormal. This increases the risk of a miscarriage or an embryo that fails to implant in the uterus.
The good news is that there are ways to increase the chances of IVF success for women in their 40s. One of these is to use donor eggs. Another option is to undergo preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) before the first embryo transfer. PGT-A is a relatively new procedure that allows doctors to identify chromosomally normal embryos that can be transferred into the uterus. This reduces the number of chromosomally abnormal embryos that are transferred and significantly increases the chance of a successful pregnancy. This is why more and more women are choosing to go for this treatment.
Reproductive History and IVF Success Rates
When a woman first starts IVF, her age will have the greatest impact on her chance of success. According to the Society for Reproductive Technology, live birth rates per cycle using a patient’s own eggs decline with age from around 35 to 42.
As time passed, more advancements were made with the IVF process. For example, it became easier to stimulate multiple eggs with medications such as Clomid and gonadotropins. This allows the doctor to transfer more than one embryo per cycle, upping the odds of pregnancy. However, a higher number of embryos also increases the chances of having twins or triplets, which may be a problem for some patients.
IVF also opened up possibilities for women who couldn’t produce their own eggs, such as those with endometriosis or PCOS, to become mothers with a gestational carrier or using donor eggs. In addition, advances in cryopreservation and genetic screening have made it possible for couples to have a second, third or more children after IVF. These factors, among others, influence the IVF pregnancy rate and are a crucial element to keep in mind when looking at clinics’ success rates.
Ovulation Problems and IVF Success Rates
Women over age 35 experience a rapid decline in the quality of their eggs and the likelihood of success in an IVF cycle. This is because a woman’s fertility naturally declines with advancing age, which is why IVF treatments work best for younger patients.
Ovulation problems, such as anovulation or irregular ovulation, can have a negative impact on IVF treatment success. Anovulation can occur for a variety of reasons, including psychological stress, hypothalamus issues, and problems with the reproductive hormones. Infrequent ovulation in pre-menopausal women is called oligoovulation and may lead to missed opportunities for a successful pregnancy.
A uterine exam is usually performed before the start of an IVF cycle to determine whether the lining of the uterus is suitable for implantation. This might involve a test known as sonohysterography or hysteroscopy, in which fluid is sent through the vagina and cervix to make more-detailed ultrasound images of the uterus. If there is a problem with the lining of the uterus, a less-invasive procedure called intracytoplasmic sperm injection can be used to transfer sperm directly into the egg.
Embryo Quality and IVF Success Rates
For most couples undergoing IVF, a successful pregnancy depends on the quality of embryos created during the ovarian stimulation process and in the laboratory. Embryo quality is determined by examining the cells with a microscope. This is called embryo grading and it helps fertility specialists determine the best embryo(s) for transfer.
Embryos are graded based on their shape and number of uniformly sized cells and the amount of cell fragmentation. A high-quality embryo will have six to 10 uniformly sized cells and have a low amount of cell fragmentation. The more uniformly sized the embryo is, the better its chances are for surviving and implanting in the uterus.
The number of embryos transferred is another important factor in IVF success rates. Typically, doctors will only transfer two or three embryos per cycle for women under 40. For women over 40, transferring more than two embryos can lead to a multiple pregnancy, which has a lower live birth rate than single pregnancies. Fortunately, there are ways to increase the likelihood of a healthy embryo implanting and resulting pregnancy, such as PGT-M (preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy), which tests each embryo for any present single gene disorders before it is transferred into the uterus.
Lifestyle and IVF Success Rates
A healthy lifestyle can increase the likelihood of a successful IVF procedure. Cigarette smoking decreases sperm quality and can inhibit uterine receptivity, and obesity increases the risk of complications during pregnancy.
During an IVF cycle, hormones are used to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. One of these eggs is then combined in the laboratory with your partner’s sperm. The fertilized egg is then implanted in your uterus, and if successful, will lead to pregnancy.
IVF can be more successful when it is paired with a genetic screening service to detect any chromosomal abnormalities before they are passed on to your child. Choosing to use donated eggs or embryos can also increase your chances of success.
IVF is not a guarantee of success, but it is an excellent option for couples with fertility issues that cannot be overcome by other treatments. It is important to understand the risks associated with IVF, and discuss your family’s circumstances with a reproductive endocrinologist before starting treatment. By following these tips, you can improve your chances of success and conceive the baby of your dreams!
