IVF after Age 40

It has become more common for men and women to wait until later in life to start a family. While this is a personal choice that should be left up to each individual, both male and female fertility diminishes with age. Fortunately, there are numerous fertility treatments that can assist people struggling with infertility, the most common of which is in vitro fertilization, or IVF.

IVF can be highly successful, but it can also be impacted by age. Individuals in Encino, CA, Bakersfield, CA, Los Angeles, CA and surrounding areas who are considering IVF after age 40 can work with the fertility specialists at the Los Angeles Reproductive Center to find out if this treatment may be right for them.

Is There an Upper Age Limit for IVF?

There is not a universal upper age limit for IVF treatment. In the United States, some fertility clinics set an upper age limit for IVF treatment at the age of 42, while other clinics perform IVF for patients who are 50 years of age, provided the circumstances are right.

Rather than basing IVF treatment on a patient’s age alone, it is best to consider a woman’s ovarian health, or more specifically, the quantity and quality of her eggs, and the quality of a man’s sperm. High quality sperm is more likely to successfully fertilize an egg, while greater egg quantity means more eggs can be retrieved during IVF treatment, and high egg quality means a greater chance at producing high-quality embryos that are ideal for embryo transfer. 

IVF Success Rates and Age

While IVF is a viable treatment option for many people after the age of 40, the reality is that IVF success rates diminish as a person ages. IVF success rates are highest among patients who are under the age of 40. Each year success rates decrease slightly, with success rates dropping further after the age of 45. 

People who are considering IVF after the age of 40 should have realistic expectations for treatment. They should also understand that they may have to go through more than one round of treatment before they achieve success.

Promoting IVF Success after Age 40

To promote the success of IVF after the age of 40, we often recommend that patients undergo treatment using donor eggs and/or donor sperm. Young, healthy donor eggs and high quality sperm can significantly increase the likelihood of successful IVF treatment, despite a patient’s age. Because donor eggs and sperm can have such an impact on the success of IVF treatment, most fertility clinics will perform IVF with donor eggs and sperm in patients who are 50 years of age.

Contact Los Angeles Reproductive Center

If you are over the age of 40 and have had a difficult time conceiving, you may find success through IVF treatment. To find out if you are an ideal candidate for IVF or any of the other fertility services offered at Los Angeles Reproductive Center, reach out to our fertility doctors online, or call our office at (818) 946-8051.