IVF outcomes 40+

[Kari4596]

Hello
I will be starting IVF next week and I would appreciate if you would share your stories here in particular if you are over 40. I know that statistically the chances of a live birth over 40 are pretty low but I do not know what to expect in terms of number of eggs collected, fertilization rate, number of good quality embryos, number of genetically normal embryos if you’ve done PGTA etc.
I will start by sharing my story: I am 43, AMH 16, antral follicle count 10, with history of miscarriages so will be doing PGTA.
Thank you

@Kari4596 hi, wishing you all the strength and patience ❤️
Will share my story. I have 2 kids, adult and 9yr old, conceived naturally, no problems, apart from both premature due to uterus shape and cervix. We always wanted and planned 3, but as kids premature risk, also stupid other reasons moving a country, job etc we delayed and then realised I am 40! I will be 42 in spring, trying 2 years: had 4 chemical, 2 ivf egg collections (doing ivf to speed up the search for a good egg). I also have good AMH 17, good hormones level etc, but quality is an issue. First cycle: 9 collected, 8 times ivf fertilised, 4 5-day embryos but all 4 abnormal (not mosaic but abnormal fully). Second egg collection: 17 collected (same dose but more follicles to start), 14 mature, 10. icsi fertilised (sperm is very good but for PGTA this time embryologist wanted icsi to have a clear sample), but only 2 5-day embryos! I was in tears and shocked.. But was told by two different clinics in 2 different countries (we did second opinions) that it is normal at my age to get 2 embryos out if 10 fertilised! We sent them for testing but still waiting... I don't have high hope. My dr says we csn try a third one if I am not ready to stop. A clinic in Spain said to go to donor egg if these 2 abnormal, as that means 6 we sent and abnormal, so finding a good one will be unrealistic. But clinic in Czech Republic said not to rush with donor, as if I gad kids and with good egg reserve, we kust need to do a few duo-stimulations and do embryo banking hoping for 2 good one. My all embryos were so-so bc and cb quality, but he said if genetically good then like 50-60% per embryo. Out of 4 different clinics only 1 was positive and didn't push for donor..

But from another forum I know a positive story of 43 year old lady who did a few egg collections and got 3 good embryos and now will go through transfers (first failed). It gives me hope
So it is a emotional and financial question too. And if you have kids or not, and whether donor would be considered or not.
Regarding supplements, not sure they really help, I sm more tgan a year on high dose of all from famous book... just so I feel i do something and in a control 😅

Just please be emotionally ready, it is not an easy journey

Sorry for all the typos!! 🙈 hope you can read

@TT82 thank you for sharing your story, I hope you will have a positive outcome. Please do keep us updated.
I also have one 5 year old, natural conception and no problems during pregnancy.
We’ve been trying for the second for 3 years now with 3 miscarriages during this time, all natural conceptions. Only the third one was tested and found to have trisomy. Further tests revealed MTHFR homozygous and PAI-1 heterozygous for me ( I had these with my first pregnancy but created no problem) so the assumption is that all 3 miscarriages were due to genetic issues due to my age.
I am also following the advice from the book ‘It starts with the egg’, I am on COQ10, methyl folate and prenatals.
So basically hoping for a genetically normal embryo.
Where did you find the positive story please?

@Kari4596 positive stories on some of the chats here on MN, when was doing IVF was joining a few. The 40+ ones have a bigger share of DE ones, some other a mix.
Hope this first cycle goes smoothly!
Are you on downregg pill before stimulation? I found them the worst 😔 was so down and bad..almost divorced my husband! Second time developed skin hives for 6 weeks. Injections itself after were good, those hormones were welcomed after that horrible downregg pill.

@TT82 No downregg pill for me. I am nervous about the whole process as I am having IVF for the first time so worried how my body will react😔

Everything will be good! 🙏 what I understood with ivf, that every cycle your body might react differently to the same exactly protocol.

@Kari4596 I had three rounds of IVF at 41/42. First round resulted in four blasts. Two transferred (BFN) and two frozen. Second round one blast which was transferred (BFN). None to freeze. Third round at age 42, three blasts. Two transferred (BFP) and one frozen. I now have a 6 month old baby boy so am very lucky to be one of the success stories.

@Endlessironing Congratulations! How many follicles and how many eggs did you have collected in each round please?

First round eleven collected, nine mature and six fertilised (though one abnormally) and four five day blasts. Second round they changed medication and had six collected, four fertilised and one five day blast. Third round I asked to be changed back to original meds. I think I had eight collected and five fertilised resulting in three five day blasts. Five embryos were transferred over the three rounds so either embryo four or five stuck and have three frosties left.

@Endlessironing congratulations!! Your story gives me hope, maybe still will do a third round

Sorry, my story is not a positive or uplifting one. But I think it's important to hear different stories to manage expectations. I used to think I would be one of the few 40+ positive stories but ...

I'm 44 and had three unsuccessful cycles when I was 41-43.

Between my first and third cycles, the AMH halved from 22 to 11.

Eggs retrieved were 9, 12, and 5 respectively.
First two cycles were IVF and the third one ICSI.
Fertilization was 6, 8, and 0 respectively.
Embryo transfers in the first two cycles were two Day 5 embryos each time.
No leftovers for freezing.

Now trying a cycle with Donor Eggs. Don't know what lies ahead.

@Serendipity24 so sorry to read about your struggles, just lots of hugs ❤️ When I arranged a few secondary opinions appointments, all told me that it is actually the norm..not to have euploid or very few/none to day 5 😔 All but obe told me to move to donor, 1 is still ready to try if we are ready emotionally/financially.
But I still like to read about positive outcomes stories xx

Thanks @TT82

Of course it's important to feel positive that it would happen, otherwise why try? Emotional and psychological aspects are just as important as physical.

I guess I read way too many success stories and had this conviction that I would be one of them. When it didn't happen for me, it was really tough. But everyone is different.

Hope your cycle this time is the one you've been waiting for!