How long would you ttc for over 40 before having treatment ?

[ttcandnoluck]

Is it even worth trying for 6 months? 12 months? Or better to go straight to ivf (with donor eggs)

All preliminary tests are fine. Been ‘not trying but not preventing’ for 18 months already. Nothing at all so had all tests which all look great but I’m thinking egg quality is an issue (42 nearly 43).

Is it pointless and a waste of time to carry on this way and is it better to look at donor treatment?

I started TTC at 42 and went straight to IVF - all tests normal but didn’t want to try naturally for even 6 months as I knew time wasn’t on my side. In any event, IVF worked first round with my own eggs and we now have two kids out of one round of IVF. I think 42 is borderline but still possible with your own eggs but I wouldn’t waste time trying naturally at this point. You could try a couple of rounds with your own eggs then move to donor IVF if results aren’t good?

I tried 6 months naturally at 40. IVF at 40.5. Had 5 rounds over a couple of years. Had a couple of miscarriages but overall they all failed and I gave up at 43. Was told donor eggs was my best bet but in the end decided against that and have remained without children.

If you just don’t prevent them you will know if it’s likely by now if 18 months. Not impossible, my sil got pregnant after giving up all hope (5 years) and about to quit jobs and go travelling!

It doesn’t sound like it’s possible to use my own eggs really. I’m ok about that so might just push forward as I feel I’m just wasting time otherwise

Was your AMH normal? Mine was above average and all tests normal. TTC 12yrs, lost 3, rounds of IVF. It wasn't till I was 42 that the consultant asked if I'd considered donor eggs. Well no, I hadn't, because it was the first time anyone had suggested it!

It sounds like you've actually been TTC 18mths so yes, I'd be asking about IVF or looking in donor eggs. I did alot of reading and decided against donor eggs in my case. I'd be clearly checking the IVF eligibility in your area. Over 40, I was allowed 1 cycle but some areas don't allow any. Best of luck.

My AMH is apparently high for my age but I’m assuming egg quality is not good . When I was younger I had very long cycles at one point I had ‘suspected Pcos’ but subsequent scans and tests showed normal ovaries so I think maybe I just had regular cysts in my twenties ?

On the not actively trying/not preventing for 18 months, how regularly would you say you are having sex?

I’ve always been more of the mindset that if not actively preventing pregnancy, then you are trying, and 18 months is plenty long enough to go the medical route.

Probably 2-3 times a week . I just haven’t used anything like ovulation tests / period tracking apps or supplements etc so I feel like if it was going to happen it would have by now.

I’m 40 and have been trying 2.5 years now
ahm is good for my age at 15.1
regular cycles, sperm fine, definitely ovulating etc
im trying to persuade dh to try ivf but its the cost thats putting him off for no guarantee

I went through IVF privately, for different reasons, and it was a good 6 months between initial testing and first treatment despite being motivated to move quickly. First round I had a few embryos so multiple (failed) transfers then second round worked first time. All in all the timeline from initial testing to positive pregnancy test was 13 months, so if you think it might be the way to go you should get the ball rolling anyway. If you get pregnant in the meantime then hurrah! If not you can avoid wasting extra time.

I just haven’t used anything like ovulation tests / period tracking apps or supplements etc

Are you taking folic acid if not using any contraception OP?

As a side note, if you or anyone reading this is overweight, the recommended folic acid dose is 5mg, not the 400mcg that is bought over the counter. Many woman are unaware.

I started IVF at 38 and had 5 failed rounds. Decided donor egg wasn’t for me. Hit 42 and then decided donor egg was , it took me 5 guys (repeat miscarriage with donor egg). I now have a 2 year old and he is my world. I’m 47 and have 1 frozen embryo and am agonising over trying it or accepting my lot.

You can get PGT A (genetic) testing of embryos done if you do IVF - so theoretically they can select embryos produced by your best eggs, radically improving your chances. It’s very expensive but worth considering, especially if you’re over 40.

‘Not trying but not preventing’ is unprotected sex. According to my GP that counts as trying and once youre over 35 you go for tests after six months of nothing. Ans youve been trying 18 months. I personally wouldnt be waiting around so long.

A lot of clinics only recommend it if you have over a certain number of embryos. It’s an added expense on top and if you only get 1-2 average grade embryos it’s not always worth the cost and the risk you’ll end up with zero to transfer. But certainly if you have plenty it’s worth it to select the best one. At 42+ the chances of getting 6+ decent blasts is quite low for a single round anyway.

@ttcandnoluck if you are serious about trying to have a child with your own eggs go to a clinic immediately. As in next week.

If you are open to donor eggs there aren't the same time pressures so you could give it further thought. But vaguely TTC like at present is a no hope option.

More and more research is coming out about fertility in men as they get older, and that “crap old eggs” may not be the reason people struggle to fall pregnant.

Has your partner had any testing? Does he take hot baths, work with a laptop on his lap, or wear tight underwear? Studies show that those lifestyle choices can be enough to use as contraception, and it wasn’t until three months (the length it takes for sperm to develop) had cleared between my partner stopping his hot baths (for psoriasis) and cut out energy drinks that we finally had one stick after many losses. We’re both 40 by the way.

@EmPeEf it is always worth looking into and optimising the male side but the barrier does remain eggs. 40 is very different to 42/43.

The majority of chromosomal abnormality is maternal in origin but IVF can help sift out viable embryos fast.

I'd look into treatment now, OP - I ended up peri at 45, and although I do still have periods I now think I was very lucky to get my DD in under the wire at 42.

FWIW, not trying but not preventing didn't work for me - we did that for a while and then I started checking for ovulation with strips and temperature, we targeted sex around ovulation and it took 6 months from then. I was just under 42 when I gave birth, but I had a miscarriage before and another after (but in both cases there it took 6 months to get pregnant). My problem was staying pregnant rather than getting pregnant. But it doesn't get more targeted than IVF and at 42 just starting that's where I would go.

Do you have a citation for “the majority of chromosomal abnormality is maternal in origin”?

Over 90% of whole chromosome aneuploidy is caused by the egg. And this kind of aneuploidy is the principle cause of embryo arrest/ non-implantation/ early miscarriage. This is why IVF success rates overwhelmingly relate to the age of the female.

https://www.the-scientist.com/genetic-basis-of-aneuploidy-which-often-causes-pregnancy-loss-revealed-73959

"The researchers found that indeed, aneuploidy mostly arose maternally. Maternal aneuploidy was nearly 10 times more common than its paternal counterpart" (paragraph 8)

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3551553/#:~:text=Sex%2Dspecific%20differences%20in%20meiosis,many%20routes%20to%20human%20aneuploidy.

"Sex-specific differences in meiosis

As discussed above, studies of clinically recognized pregnancies demonstrate that most human aneuploidies are maternally derived"

https://www.coopersurgical.com/product/pgt-completesm-test/

Origin of Aneuploidy section

If serious about ttc you need to actually have sex when fertile so need to track /ovulation

an ivf clinic will run tests and either say yes a good chance with own eggs or no a low % and suggest de if want to get preg

take folic acid

Ttc for 10yrs and had 5 private ivf to get my one and only bfp - i was almost 44 when gave birth to mini blondes and she was from our 3rd cycle when I was 42 and a fet

she now almost 9 and I’m heading up to 53 but apparently don’t look it 😂

only you can decide whether to try ow eggs if Clinic say yes - or de

we always said if we used all our embryos (think have 3/4 left) and all failed so after 8/9 cycles we would have used de

it’s a Personal choice. I have friends who used de and others who decided no but also means no parents

I'd speak with clinic now, but id want to at least try a round with your own eggs. You never know it could be the sperm that aren't doing it.
Or it could be something else 'assisted hatching' is a thing too

I’d go straight into fertility treatment. It doesn’t all happen immediately, the whole process can take a while with all the tests etc. In the meantime you can keep on trying while you’re banking embryos. 42…may be worth a shot with your own eggs first, then switch to donor if nothing comes of it. You can be looking into donor eggs while trying with your own so that you’re prepared and ready to go if it doesn’t work out with your own. Good luck! I’m a proud parent of an IVF baby. It’s a tough experience, but 100% worth it to get that miracle baby!