Fertility treatment after 40- is there any point?

[thefluffysideofgrey]

We've been trying for our second for nearly a year. Nothing.

I'm now 40. Had a look at the success rates at our local clinic and they're basically zero.

It's hopeless, isn't it?

The odds are not in your favour, that's true. If I were you, my biggest hesitation in doing fertility treatment would be the physical toll it's going to take on you. There is also the expense to consider. You are very fortunate to have a child already, so for me, I would not put myself and my family through this.

How are you feeling about it?

Depends on what the diagnosis is and interventions you need - IVF using your own eggs has s pretty low chance of success, but if the issue is responsive to surgery, or clomid, or if you use donor eggs, the chances of success aren’t zero.

Have you looked at your overall health?
I had a dc at 43.
Took a good look at diet - rubbish.
Exercise - little.
Stress - lots.
Relaxation - none.
Altered all of the above.
Got pregnant with a 6 year gap between dc.
A year even under 30 isn't long to ttc.
I get at 40 it's a worry though.
I have also heard good things about acupuncture pre ttc....

I don't have a diagnosis as I haven't approached the clinic yet. Just loathe to waste my money

Fertility treatments after 40 do tend to have low success rates (unfortunately becoming lower still, as you move further past 40).

My take would generally be that if you have a partner of the opposite sex, and no diagnosed issues which would definitely prevent conception, then you probably have as good (or perhaps better) a chance through just trying by yourselves - certainly, this wouldn't have the associated expense.

So, if you haven't already, then one thing to do might be to have some initial tests done just to check there aren't any specific issues, which may have cropped up or worsened since having your first child.

Success rates become massively higher where donor eggs are concerned, although obviously this is a big step and not for everyone, and the costs involved are significantly higher.

Hi @thefluffysideofgrey..I had the ivf last month, with my own eggs..was 45last week ...I’m also blessed with one DD but wanted another one and been trying for years (had MMC 2y ago)..it is a lots of money and I felt the same as you. Few months ago I never thought I would try the ivf, now I think I wasted so much time trying naturally , wished I tried the ivf when 41/42 etc..successful rates at 44/45 are even lower (1-2%) than at 40..I had the ET 3w ago and tested positive last week..we still have a long way to go but it can happen..Good luck.

In short, no.

Success rates over 40 are really really low - as per other painters I'd continue trying naturally and not waste your money at this point x

If you were to go down this route you wouldn’t just go in blindly. By which I mean there are tests that will tell you the likelihood of you conceiving through IVF. Your fertility doesn’t just drop off a cliff age 40. in order to make an informed decision about this you could get your AMH tested which will give an idea of your ovarian reserve. This would then give you some indication of where things are at. These tests can be bought on the internet now I think although clinics can do them too. Also partner’s sperm needs testing.

Try and remember that fertility clinic stats give an overall average. You will always have people who fall either side of this. I know many 40+ women who have fallen pregnant naturally and several more through IVF. I have two IVF babies born age 39 and 41.

Bottom line is, find out as much as you can about your own fertility before you make any decisions on what to do next. Echo posts above about health and lifestyle. Fairly critical at this age when TTC.

I don't have a diagnosis as I haven't approached the clinic yet

That’s what I mean - there are lots of steps before IVF. What if you have fibroids, what if it’s your DH not you, what if you have PCOS or hypothyroidism...

I probably wouldn’t pursue IVF if you already have children (low chance of success, expensive). But I’d want to check there was nothing easily fixable first.

Yes it’s lower Success rate as you get older but also depends on your amh and fsh

Even at 39 I was told I had good egg quality and quantity so we continued with own eggs

1st failed 1 transfered
2nd failed 3 Transfered

Then went abroad and imo technology and freezing process better
3rd failed one implanted but had 6 to freeze

They gave me a higher dose of drugs and icis - which uk didn’t do as nothing wrong with df sperm

Abroad do it anyway

4th fet failed
5th fet our one and ever bfp

We have think 3 left but won’t be using them I was almost 44 when gave birth

Dd is 2.8 and I’m 46

Friend at 38 didnt Have good results for amh and fsh and went to donor eggs and success first time

Obv many people get preg naturally 40-46 - I’m on older mum fb group and lots naturally get pregnant

Hi @thefluffysideofgrey,

I totally understand where you are, we are in a similar situation - but I’m 43 - so it really is last chance and I do feel I’m throwing money against a wall - but I guess you don’t know if you don’t give it one shot. I had never been pregnant or tried before but got pregnant last year (miscarriage) then decided we did want a child - I got pregnant again the following month which also resulted in a miscarriage at 8 weeks. We decided just to try naturally and leave it in the lap of the gods - but partner now has to take medication which has affected his speed count so that is no longer an option. Deciding this week what to do - and we will be using our wedding savings to do so, I am award the chances are incredibly low. I agree with the others - get some test and you’ll be able to make a more informed choice. Good luck with it all xx

@Blondeshavemorefun

Can I ask where you went abroad?

@tamstar we went to Madrid ivi

Quick easy flight and near airport

Thank you - I’ll check them out

At 33 my ovaries were functioning at about average for someone aged 43. We had a go and got 4 eggs, 1 blast but bfn. I'm now pregnant from a 21 year old donor egg and over the moon. The great thing about donor eggs is you have a much higher chance of getting embryos to freeze and the miscarriage risks are lower.

I feel some of these comments are unnecessarily negative... true, the older you get, the lower your chances. But far from impossible at 40 as opposed to 42+ (even then not impossible but chances are significantly lower). I would have some tests first and then go from there. I am 39 and just became pregnant naturally after eight years of infertility/subfertility and having to have IVF to conceive my daughter at age 34. I miscarried at just over 7 weeks but it has given me hope that I can conceive again either naturally or through IVF. My sister in law recently had her third child at age 43, so please don’t feel that you are too old to have options still.

I also feel people have been quick to say chances are low. Why don’t you go and get your amh and other factors checked and see what the doctor says. Over on the pregnancy board there are lots of women in their 40s who are pregnant, some from ivf. I’m almost 37 and pregnant for the first time, and have other issues such as endo, one tube due to previous ectopic, previous ovarian surgery which caused one ovary not to respond to ivf at all. And male factor meaning we had to do icsi. Even with those factors I got pregnant from my second FET and have 2 more embryos on ice. Don’t give up too easily! But if the doctor tells you it’s unlikely to work, then either listen or seriously weigh up the financial and other impacts before giving it a go. Good luck!

Biggest factors you can change to improve your chances are:
Not be overweight
Not to drink alcohol
Lower stress levels
Exercise

@peachesforfree
But the anecdotal data on the pregnancy board for over 40 is skewed as it obviously only shows those who are pregnant at over 40, and not those unable to become pregnant over 40. You’d also not know of those over 40 who had ivf who used donor eggs.

It’s not always hopeless over 40, but statistically the chances with own eggs are 40-42: 9%
43-44: 3%
over 44: 2%
This is the HFEAs data of IVF with own eggs and the chances are low. It’s not just people on here being overly pessimistic, unnecessarily negative or too quick to say the chances are low, it’s fact:

Sorry should be a . At the end not a :

You could say the opinion on infertility board is skewed too, as only those struggling or having recently struggled would be here commenting. HFEA gives a 9% live birth rate per embryo transferred at 40-42, that’s not fantastic but I don’t think it’s the terrible odds that people are making out, but think some tests with a doctor make sense.

Truth is no one can predict how your body will react/respond...somebody at 40+ can have better blood results and ovaries better working than someone 10y younger with lots of medical issues, so it’s not just down to age.. 40y old with no issues might have bigger chance than someone younger..first step should be get the tests and scans done so you know where you stand and what’s possible.

Hi, I had my fourth child at 44 naturally (48 now). I also have one fallopian tube, borderline PCOS and have a blood clotting condition. It took me 7 years to have my first and one failed IVF attempt. I would say at 40 you still have time.

One of the things which worked for me was reflexology treatments.
I then went on to train as a Reflexologist, specialising in Fertility (not a plug!) and conceived my daughter whilst on the course (and having regular treatments).

Check out Zita West's website, she has lots of advice on conceiving over 40. Best of luck xx

At 40 I'd say you still have a chance worth trying. If that is just the age.