Frozen embryo transfer over 40

[RafflesMaidenSister]

Hi, I wonder if anyone can help. We have been incredibly lucky and have had a successful fresh and successful frozen cycle. We have one remaining frozen embryo (frozen when I was 35). We would like to use it.

I am 38 and ideally would like to wait a bit longer before trying. I appreciate that IVF success rates decline with age, particularly over 40. I just wondered if anyone knows if statistics take into account mother’s age when embryo was ‘started’. I assume they don’t but can’t find any information on how or what the expectation of the effect of this might be if - as I suspect is the case - there is no data. In short, does anyone have any idea as to what extent the decline is due to decline in egg quality and to what extent the ageing body of the mother?

I’m also interested as to whether there are any statistics - or personal experiences - around multiple successful rounds. Are our odds better because we’ve been successful twice?

Realistically we can’t go again before May (csection) but I’m trying to assess if it would affect our chances to wait until, say, December 2020 (so a 7 month delay making me not 40 but into 39).

If it’s relevant it was male infertility - I was fine

Hi! We have just had a consultation and asked the specialist this same question. Our frosties were frozen when I was 38 and will be over 40 by the time we have our next transfer. Have been told that success is based on the age the embryos were frozen and not the age you are when you do the transfer. Hope this helps! Good luck for when you decide you’re ready to try again. 🍀

Thanks it does! Had a rotten last pregnancy and would like note of a break this time

More of a break 🤦🏼‍♀️

On e thing to bare in mind if you definitely want a third child is that if this frozen embryo transfer fails then you'd be using your older eggs for a fresh cycle with lower success rates. We were luck with our first fresh IVF at 35+ but then put back our final frozen embryo at 37 which failed. Now instead of having young eggs I'm facing a long grueling journey to conceive again (failed 1 cycle and 2 transfers, now 38, TTC #2 for over 1 year). Maybe don't wait too long just in case!

Seconding what ChatWithMe said. Your odds with that one embryo should pretty much be in line with your odds at 35, but it is only the one embryo. So, if your plan if the FET fails would be to have further treatment cycles to try for another child, then you'd be heading into that treatment with older eggs.

I was also coming on here to say what @ChatWithMe and @Persipan have said.

If you’re sure that you would stop if the remaining embryo you have isn’t successful then it doesn’t matter when you transfer it as your odds are those of the age you were when that embryo was created. But if you would have or would consider having further fresh cycles if your one embryo fails then it would be better to transfer it sooner so that your eggs would be younger for another fresh cycle.

As others said it’s the age of when you had the cycle so in your case 35

Makes no diff how old you are when has the fet

But if that fet fails and you will do another fresh cycle then will be the age you are now