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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Flip

Original poster

IVF age 45

11 replies

SusieF · 04/09/2006 14:07

Hi,

Have just joined up after abandonment of my first IVF treatment (on maximum dose Menopur), due to no response. Have been advised not to try again, and am feeling quite devastated (altho I did know there was only the tiniest chance of success)

I was wondering if anyone out there has any experience of IVF at my ripe old age (45!!)? And any words of wisdom?

Look forward to hearing anything, thanks.

OP posts:

trace2 · 04/09/2006 14:10

susie, ive no experance, just bumping this for you,

evansg01 · 04/09/2006 20:45

Hi Susie F - I'm 43.5 and doing my first superovulation cycle and IUI. I've been advised by my clinic to go on the donor egg register when I am 44. I'm afraid at 45 trying to get pregnant using your own eggs is practically an impossible task. I've come to the conclusion that I'll give IUI a couple of tries if I produce eggs but I'm resigned to having to take the donor egg route if it does not work. Sorry I can't have a more uplifting response

Earlybird · 04/09/2006 20:48

SusieF - I've been there, and know how hard it is to go through what you're experiencing.

Do you have any idea what your FSH levels are?

Original poster

SusieF · 04/09/2006 23:19

Trace 2 and evansg01... thanks for your comments. Good luck to you evansg with your IUI.... I have thought about the donor route, but need to think some more.

OP posts:

suejoneziscalmernow · 04/09/2006 23:31

Have experienced IVF failure (3 attempts) at the ripe old age of 38! Am now in the process of adopting (very soon - so exciting!). Didn't try with donot eggs as my eggs were fine so didn;t seem much point.

Many clinics advise that over 43 - IUI with drugs has same (though poor) success rates as IVF so if you're tempted to try again, IUI is less invasive than IVF.

Good luck

Original poster

SusieF · 05/09/2006 00:14

Hi Earlybird,

I'm only just getting the hang of this message board, so may have sent my reply to your message incorrectly.... doh!

Anyway, thanks.... sorry to hear you've had similar experience. My FSH was 11.5, but that was 8 months ago and hasn't been tested since. Appreciate your comments...

OP posts:

Original poster

SusieF · 05/09/2006 00:25

Hi Suejonez... thanks for comments.

It seems that different clinics have varied approaches.... My first thoughts were to IUI, but I was advised to go straight to IVF as success rates are better. But now having failed IVF due to inactive ovaries, I presumed IUI would have the same outcome (ie no response to stimulation)? Have to admit, I feel very ignorant about this whole subject.

OP posts:

suejoneziscalmernow · 05/09/2006 10:00

I would agree if the problem is not producing eggs then IUI wouldn;t work any better. I do understand how you feel it was a horrible shock to me when I had to face up to the fact that the IVF wasn;t going to work. That cold, sinking, sick feeling - glad to be through that now.

Everyone insists on telling you stories about all the women they know who got pregnant from IVF on 6th attempt, or got pregnant natrually after giving up IVF blah blah blah. They just don't know about the ones who failed.

If you decide not to try again and would like to consider adoption, I can talk to you about it when you're ready.

Take care.

evansg01 · 05/09/2006 10:12

SusieF - my clinic I think would prefer I did IVF but I'm adamant that I'll only do it if I produce a large batch of follicles (over 10) which is unlikely at my age. IVF is so expensive and when you have a 4% success rate it does not seem worth it. IUI is simpler but probably has an even lower success rate. Because of my age we have to py for everything ourselves so I'd rather save the money for a donor egg IVF programme which has more of a 40% chance of success.
I agree with suejon.... many people say they know of someone had a baby over the age of 45, but in England and Wales it is less than a 900 women per year. They don't know all the thousands who are still hoping that they are successful.
I would still like to try and get pregnant even if it is not my biological egg before we consider the adoption route.

suejoneziscalmernow · 05/09/2006 11:14

I'm not sure that IUI does have a lowere success rate at your age I think it is similar. I'm sure a friend in a similar position to you was advised that by her clinic. The only disadvantage is with IVF you can tell the quality of the eggs and IUI you can't.

I had my tratment single so if I went for donor eggs, I would be using donor sperm too which started to feel a pointless, though I do unerstand the wanting to be pregnant issue. In my case the costs swung it - I couldn;t afford to have a couple of donor egg cycles and then adopt internationally (fewer age restrictions), adoption has a 99% success rate so I went for that instead.

Original poster

SusieF · 06/09/2006 08:55

My scan revealed not even 1 tiny follicle, so IUI definitely out of the question. If I wanted to keep trying, donor egg would be the next step, but I'm really not sure how I feel about it. I'm still trying to accept that pregnancy won't be happening with my own eggs. In the meantime, thanks for all your supportive and helpful comments.
By the way, can anyone tell me when I should expect my period to come after stopping these drugs?
Good luck to you all.

OP posts:

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