IVF over 40 - should I bother?

[NotMyDayJob]

I just wondered if it was possible to get a perspective from anyone under going IVF over 40. We've been trying for DC2 for over 2.5 years. In that time I've had 3 miscarriages, although those were in a short six months and generally I've had a year plus not conceiving, miscarriages and now another year plus not conceiving. DC1 took nearly two years to conceive. However I was advised not to bother with IVF when slightly younger (39/40) and am now 41. However DH and I are just wondering if it is worth one throw of the dice.

I have been tested for everything, the only thing we've not done is try one of the specialist recurrent miscarriage places (eg Mr Shehata) as we are in the north and logistically it's just not possible. But I was tested for high NK cells in Coventry which came back as normal.

Ivf is never worth it if you're only willing to do a single round. The likelihood of it failing is always higher than of it succeeding, at any age.

It's generally suggested that three rounds is sort of the minimum you should be thinking about to give yourself a pretty realistic chance, but it's not unusual for it to take even more rounds, especially with increasing maternal age.

Talk to a clinic to get a feel for what they think they can do for you.

Hi OP, firstly, I'm sorry for your losses. Many, many people have IVF success at 40+ but of course there are no guarantees (at any age!) what I would say is that it's more than likely to take more than one go at it as first cycles fail more often than not. They can provide valuable information on how to approach subsequent cycles however. The best place to start is probably to book a fertility MOT at your chosen clinic - look at success rates for your age group as they can vary quite a lot. At age 40 my clinic offered me a 15-20 % chance of success but some clinics were saying 8-9%. At your MOT appointment you'll get a scan and blood tests to determine your egg reserves which will give the clinic a better idea of your chance of success. You may also want to think about genetic testing of any embryos created since you've been having miscarriages so you'll at least know that you're transferring euploid embryos which are less likely to miscarry.

I had 2 cycles at age 40. The first only created two decent quality embryos which didn't implant. With the changes (drugs and lifestyle) we made for the second cycle we ended up with 4 top quality embryos which have resulted in a perfect set of twins and currently I'm 24 weeks pregnant with one of the frosties at the ripe old age of 43, so it definitely can work at 40+. Good luck!

@physicskate I understand, when I say one last throw of the dice, I sort of mean the whole process rather than just one round

@SamoyedFan123 congratulations on your pregnancy (and your twins!). I have had fertility MOTs (i've had so many tests over the last few years), the next step really is the direct conversation about whether IVF is at all worthwhile

Hi @NotMyDayJob. There's a thread you might want to join but it's obviously biased towards doing it as the women on there are doing IVF aged 40.
It's up to you but I would give it a go. So many times IVF doesn't work but you do hear of people who get lucky first time (or even second time) and you may be one of them. I'm not but I know a few!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/infertility/3774815-anyone-doing-ivf-at-40

Hi @NotMyDayJob I did IVF at 41 which worked second time and now have a 2 year old. I miscarried our frozen embryo(s) last Summer and am now doing a fresh round aged 44!

Am I crazy to try? Yes and No. I'm fully aware that it almost certainly won't work (5% chance) and I'm scared of miscarrying again which is the likely outcome of a positive test. BUT we can't conceive naturally and I want the peace of mind of knowing that I did everything I could to have a sibling. For me it is about being able to live with not having a second and make my peace with it. So we are going for it. I have to say I'm finding it bizarrely stress-free at this stage as I have such low expectations -very different to doing it for my first and to the FET.

I went to a clinic that had good stats for my age and ended up with a chemical pregnancy. I then did an NHS cycle at a clinic with average stats for my age (and poor everything else), and got pregnant with my DD. I still believe in the first clinic and am there now but there is also an element of luck - if you find that golden egg, it can work wherever you are.

Best of luck

Xxx

@Janefx40 thank you. I guess that is how I feel. I've been told my chances are higher of a natural conception. But it's not happening and I can't keep trying indefinitely. If someone had told me I'd still be trying after three years I'd have done IVF back then and I don't want to look back in two/three years and regret more just trying. I would love to give DC a sibling and I guess like you I just really need to know I tried

@NotMyDayJob it is such a difficult decision. I had already done IVF so it was maybe less daunting for me to try again. I've made a lot of arrangements to give me as much time off as possible while doing it. It is also worth considering the financial side. Plan for 3 cycles and don't forget than meds are usually bought separately to the prices quotes for IVF so check what extras there will be. It helps (clearly) if you are able to afford it without going into any serious debt - so unfair I know because a lot of people aren't in this position.

If you decide to go ahead and want any advice on how to make it manageable then get in touch

Xxx

[quote Janefx40]@NotMyDayJob it is such a difficult decision. I had already done IVF so it was maybe less daunting for me to try again. I've made a lot of arrangements to give me as much time off as possible while doing it. It is also worth considering the financial side. Plan for 3 cycles and don't forget than meds are usually bought separately to the prices quotes for IVF so check what extras there will be. It helps (clearly) if you are able to afford it without going into any serious debt - so unfair I know because a lot of people aren't in this position.

If you decide to go ahead and want any advice on how to make it manageable then get in touch

Xxx[/quote]
Thank you. As it is we are very lucky that money is not so much of an issue, I think DH just doesn't want 3 cycles to become 4 to become 5, for our own sanity we need a cut off. I've been in touch with a couple of clinics today to understand options and we are going to make an appointment with the one that has the best rates and take it from there. Thank you for replying xx

[quote LongerthanMrTicklesarms]Hi @NotMyDayJob. There's a thread you might want to join but it's obviously biased towards doing it as the women on there are doing IVF aged 40.
It's up to you but I would give it a go. So many times IVF doesn't work but you do hear of people who get lucky first time (or even second time) and you may be one of them. I'm not but I know a few!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/infertility/3774815-anyone-doing-ivf-at-40[/quote]
Thank you, I will take a look

@SamoyedFan123

Hi OP, firstly, I'm sorry for your losses. Many, many people have IVF success at 40+ but of course there are no guarantees (at any age!) what I would say is that it's more than likely to take more than one go at it as first cycles fail more often than not. They can provide valuable information on how to approach subsequent cycles however. The best place to start is probably to book a fertility MOT at your chosen clinic - look at success rates for your age group as they can vary quite a lot. At age 40 my clinic offered me a 15-20 % chance of success but some clinics were saying 8-9%. At your MOT appointment you'll get a scan and blood tests to determine your egg reserves which will give the clinic a better idea of your chance of success. You may also want to think about genetic testing of any embryos created since you've been having miscarriages so you'll at least know that you're transferring euploid embryos which are less likely to miscarry.

I had 2 cycles at age 40. The first only created two decent quality embryos which didn't implant. With the changes (drugs and lifestyle) we made for the second cycle we ended up with 4 top quality embryos which have resulted in a perfect set of twins and currently I'm 24 weeks pregnant with one of the frosties at the ripe old age of 43, so it definitely can work at 40+. Good luck!

Hello can I ask what sort of changes you made to increase your embryos? Am thinking about IVF at 43 been told it will unlikely be successful with a 5% chance if success. My AMH levels are 4.9

@SamoyedFan123

Hi OP, firstly, I'm sorry for your losses. Many, many people have IVF success at 40+ but of course there are no guarantees (at any age!) what I would say is that it's more than likely to take more than one go at it as first cycles fail more often than not. They can provide valuable information on how to approach subsequent cycles however. The best place to start is probably to book a fertility MOT at your chosen clinic - look at success rates for your age group as they can vary quite a lot. At age 40 my clinic offered me a 15-20 % chance of success but some clinics were saying 8-9%. At your MOT appointment you'll get a scan and blood tests to determine your egg reserves which will give the clinic a better idea of your chance of success. You may also want to think about genetic testing of any embryos created since you've been having miscarriages so you'll at least know that you're transferring euploid embryos which are less likely to miscarry.

I had 2 cycles at age 40. The first only created two decent quality embryos which didn't implant. With the changes (drugs and lifestyle) we made for the second cycle we ended up with 4 top quality embryos which have resulted in a perfect set of twins and currently I'm 24 weeks pregnant with one of the frosties at the ripe old age of 43, so it definitely can work at 40+. Good luck!

Hey just wondering what sort of lifestyle changes you made that helped I have given up alcohol is there anything else you'd recommend and what supplements did u use thanks

Hi @SamoyedFan123, congrats 🥰 I'm 41 this year. Just a month ago before turn to 41 I had ivf icsi @nhs got positive result after 14days transfer but 17days later turn to biochemical pregnancy my heart literally broken. I wonder what's clinic did you go to and how much did you pay for 2 cycles of ivf. I would really love to try at least one more for IVF. Hope to get lucky .

Xx