Am I too old for IVF??

[zebedeethezebra]

I'm 45. Please let me know if you know. I really don't want to waste a few hundred quid on a consultation at a clinic only to be told I'm too old anyway.

Age isn't automatic barrier, depends on what reasons are for infertility/ what tests results there are. Have a look at clinic websites for new information and try a free open day at one of them. At our one we got five min 1-1 with consultation as part of open day so we asked basic questions then.

Do you have a specific fixable problem apart from your age?

Take a look at the Lister website they have a calculator tool where you put in your ages and other factors and it comes up with your % likelihood of success.

I remember when I was there in 2007 - they told me that they had never had a successful IVF treatment with own eggs over the age of 46. Sorry.

www.ivf.org.uk/success-rates/how-to-use-the-calculator/

If you're prepared to consider using donor eggs you're definitely not too old, if your uterus is functioning ok the chance of a successful pregnancy is based on the age of the egg donor, not your age.

Otherwise a clinic can run tests to check your ovarian reserve, ie, how many eggs you have left (AMH test/antral follicle count - they cost me about £700) but realistically you will be at the upper age limit for treatment with your own eggs and a reputable clinic won't take your money without a reaslistic chance of success.

I've had a successful pregnancy age 42. Then I've had 2 miscarriages in the last 18 months, one at 5 weeks, one at around 9 weeks. So I don't think I have any specific infertility problem, I just think its my age. My GP wasn't particularly sympathetic. DP doesn't want to try the donor route.

Actually you've just cheered me up that you've had a successful pregnancy at 42 as I seem to be struggling at 41. They can tell you pretty accurately how many eggs you have left if you do the AMH/AFC tests but it doesn't correlate to egg quality. I seem to have an unusually high number of eggs left for my age but given I've also had 2 miscarriages since dc1 it's probably safe to assume they're not in tip top condition.

Maybe its worth investing a few hundred pounds to have investigations so you know you've exhausted your options, sometimes you need to go through the process? What butheneverdid said accords with my understanding about upper age limits and IVF working. I think I read the HFEA saying a couple of years ago that the oldest case of successful IVF using own eggs in the UK was 45. Having said that, a woman at my clinic is being treated and she's 44 and she seems to be responding well to stimulation so I guess it's individual.

with your own eggs - yes.
your chances of success are less than 2%

but with donor eggs, as another poster has said, then you have a very good chance.

I had a positive pregnancy test yesterday on my second cycle of IVF using donor eggs under the London Womens Clinic egg sharing scheme. The embryo was transferred on my 47th birthday! Keep your fingers crossed everyone!

Congratulations wendy - that's fantastic! Did you find it hard to get an egg donor?

I'm going to an open day at the Lister next week, so I will find out some more information then. Unfortunately, although they are handy for work, I can't have any treatment there as they are too far away from home. My local clinic doesn't have an open day for another 6 weeks.

zebedee sorry to hear about your ttc woes. I'm 44 have just had donor ivf (couldn't use my own eggs)). I fell pg first time round but mc about 7 weeks later. During my journey so far , ive learned that age is a big factor, but it doesn't mean a flat no. You just might need a bit of help and its amazing what they can do now.

I'd suggest getting an amh blood test which shows how your eggs are doing. And also an internal scan so an expert can check out your uterus. These results should really help your consultant explain your next steps.

I've also read a lot about immunes - as we get older, women's bodies switch from conception focus to well being (in theory to help us look after our families) - what that means is that our bodies up their immunity to things and it can mean embryos are 'attacked' by our immune systems. Not all clinics offer immunes testing as the treatment is controversial. But the lister does do ask them at your meeting.

Good luck and hope it all works out

I've had 2 successful pregnancies with donor egg IVF at 41 and 42. I was told that I carry babies well (once I'm on blood thinners for thrombophilia) and there's no reason why I couldn't go again in a couple of years.

Good luck.

You've had a baby already in your 40's ,so I would think that improves your odds. In the meantime try accupuncture. I've had both my dds naturally in my forties (at 41 and 43) and each time I'd had accupuncture just before I conceived,(for my bad back, but I told the practitioner I wanted to conceive) There is a clinic in London that has had good results- I remember the Observer did a feature on them a few years back. I can't remember the name but it is a Chinese woman.

I think we're all individual. You won't know unless you try. I was successful on my second ivf try at age 40 and now am starting again. I wasn't successful but froze 2 blasts which i'm going to transfer next week. So some of us are still producing good eggs and you could be one of them. Good luck!

No, you're not too old! Ignore the unsympathetic doctor and contact as many clinics as you can.