Views on trying IVF for 3rd time at 41, or not..

[Sultanafan]

Hi all,

Looking for some views on this. I am 41 (42 this December) and been ttc since spring 2020. I’ve had two ivf cycles- 3 decent embryos across the two cycles, all put back in individually. One didn’t work and two embryos resulted in two chemical pregnancies last year. Then I got pregnancy naturally very surprisingly earlier this year, literally just before starting another IVF cycle, but that ended in a MMC at 10 weeks (pregnancy actually ended around the 6 week mark).

We are now about to begin another IVF cycle but during this time I have been wondering if it’s worth doing at all. All of our cycles have been self funded as will this next one be. We are lucky in that we can afford it but we are going with a new more expensive clinic this time. The costs are eye watering!

Just wondering what you might do as I definitely feel like we’re at a crossroads. I am considering throwing in the towel before this next cycle and just being happy with life as it is! Any views welcome, stories of IVF success at 41 welcome, or equally some realism as I am not clearly not very fertile!

My AMH was 10.4 last year. Just about to get it tested again. I have had all the tests at the recurrent miscarriage clinic- all normal. I am on all the vitamins- Co Enzyme Q10 etc and would start DHEA in prep for another IVF cycle if we do go ahead.

Thank you all for reading/listening! It is tough and I wish you all the very best if you are struggling also 💐

Hi
Sorry to hear that you haven't been successful so far. It's a hard decision to make. I had a successful first round when I was 37. I then had 3 failed rounds at the same clinic and we decided to stop. Then covid hit and we saved some money on a cancelled holiday so decided to go one more time. The new clinic was considerably more expensive but the round was successful and I conceived at 41 and gave birth at 42. My AMH was 7 so lower than yours.
I definitely think the new clinic had a huge bearing on our success, they were much more thorough. Good luck whatever you decide.

I'm so sorry for all you've been through. I'd really encourage you to read Robert Winston's stuff via the genesis research trust. He has a Q&A page which is really interesting and I have found his comments really helpful in helping me come to a decision as to when to stop treatment. From what I've read he would almost certainly advise you to stop, as you are probably as likely to conceive naturally as you are via IVF. He is quite scathing of its use in people who are older with poor quality eggs, as the likelihood of success is so low. It's obviously a very individual decision though and worth reading different points of view. I hope you reach a decision you're happy with.

Hi there! Just to chip in that I had three ivf cycles - from when I had just turned 42 to turning 43, was successful on my 7th transfer (got a positive test on my 5th, but miscarried and what looked like a chemical on my 6th)and I’m currently 21 weeks pregnant. I have a female partner so trying «naturally » wasn’t an option for us. I honestly do think it is worth trying - but of course it’s such a personal decision and I know all too well how extortionate it is! Good luck and if you have any other questions - please fire away!

I finally got pregnant at 42 on my third cycle of ivf xx

My amh was 2.2.

Ps ask for a progesterone test on transfer day. It made all the difference for me x

I'm 43 and 7 months old, AMH was 16.5 pmol in Jan. First time doing IVF.
Husband has teratozoospermia (low morphology) but we've had good fertilisation rates so no male factor.
I'm on chinese herbs, multivitamins, NAC, PQQ, resveratrol, COQ10 and feminine probiotics. Also having acupuncture for years now.
We have two embryo frozen from 9 eggs collected in the first round of EC, currently waiting on PGT-A results of 4 embryos from 14 eggs on the second embryo banking cycle.

I'd go for it. But it's a very personal decision. We had IVF success at 36 and another at 42, but each shot is a throw of the dice, and it depends on your own circumstances.

@Caubabatko I've just gone through my third ivf transfer which has worked. All of my paperwork from the last few years from Care Fertility is very clear about not using Chinese herbs. Not trying to preach but wanted you to know.

@CR7 Thanks for sharing. Chinese herbs is a very broad term - the comment by Care Fertility doesnt specify exactly what herbs the patients who seemingly had an adverse effect took. What they had will be most certainly different from mine.
Just to say on the contrary my results have only improved with the length of time I've taken my herbs - egg/blastocyst numbers in my previous comment - I have no comparison to make from before taking them and there are other changes I've made to supplementation and diet between two ECs, but as doctors (who dont know I'm taking Chinese meds) are telling me my results are exceptionally good for my age and my ovaries look 10 years younger, I'm not worried. The only thing I wonder is whether they are actually doing any good and maybe i could have done just as well but there's no telling😊

@Caubabatko there is so much conflicting evidence but just wanted to share incase. Wishing you lots of luck xx

@CR7 Of course, appreciate the thought:)
I've picked up on your comment on progesterone test on the transfer day? How does it help with the transfer?

It's needs to be at a certain level. Mine east so I was given lots of extra drugs x

Mine wasn't!

Hi there,

Thank you very much for all your replies @Vegasdreaming27 , @CR7 @Caubabatko @GoldJules @SErunner @caffelattetogo . I think we will go for it. Best wishes for healthy pregnancies for those currently expecting and all good wishes generally 😊

Good for you, wishing you luck x

Wonderful. Fingers crossed for you.

Hi there,
I used to spend so much time trawling the internet looking for success stories so thought I would post mine somewhere. Googled and found your discussion :)

I’m 41. Second child was born 5 weeks ago, a successful second round of IVF (first child conceived without assistance). Had much better results the first round, 6 eggs fertilised and all made it to day 5, though none to freeze. Transferred two, was unsuccessful. Second round, 7 eggs retrieved but only 1 fertilised properly. The retrieval was almost cancelled, follicles weren’t growing like we’d hoped in advance. We decided to go for it anyway and had a successful transfer on day 3.

For what it’s worth, I definitely would have done a third round and then reassessed after that. I’m not an expert by any stretch but lots of articles online about doing three rounds and then reflecting on what might happen next. Good luck x

@Vegasdreaming27 sorry I know this is an old post but wondered which clinic you used that made all the difference if you don't mind sharing please?
I'm looking at Lister & CRGH and one is considerable more than the other in terms of cost for our specific treatment... we also have a local clinic which I've had a consultation with and just feel so confused xxx

@smashedbanana it was CRGH that we went to and had a successful round with. It was very expensive but ultimately worth it for us.

@Vegasdreaming27 thanks so much for replying that's really great to know! We're with Dr Saad, who did you see? Congratulations :) xx

@smashedbanana thank you. I was with Dr Seshadri, she was great. Good luck x