IVF at 43 - is it worth trying?

[CointreauQuaint]

Hello,

Been TTC since 40, got pregnant last year, but unfortunately suffered a miscarriage. Was in ‘the system’ for NHS IVF referral but been told today I’m too old (42). They also basically said it’s not worth funding privately as the chance of success is so low. I'm frustrated by this, as we’ve been in the process of this referral since feb 2024 and now been rejected.

First pregnancy, just wondered on others experience / success?

I'm really sorry you've had this wait, we endured similar with our NHS referral due to COVID (and a PCOS misdiagnosis along the way).

I would personally go to a private clinic for a fertility MOT and then you can also take their advice. I would say the whole journey is unfortunately based on luck - age does play a part but NOT the whole part.

If it helps I'm 42 and just had a successful viability scan today, which was from only 1 untested embryo from 2 egg collections. It is possible ❤️

Thanks @Brownowl83 I’m sorry you’ve had a difficult journey too 😔 I do feel pretty let down by the whole process.

that’s great advice though, I’ve been in touch with a local clinic - fingers crossed.

Wishing you all the best - the fertility clinics will be able to provide you with the best advice.

The best thing I can share from experience is always go with your gut, and if it's worth a try go for it. My first egg collection resulted in zero blastocysts despite collecting 22, and I almost gave up then, but gave it one last attempt... I did set the boundary though at one more try as mentally (and financially) that's all I could do. Good luck 🍀

Thank you ❤️ And congratulations to you, I hope everything goes smoothly! 🙏

Its tricky as many eggs abnornal then

If your guna go for it , i strongly recommend pgta testing

Im 38
And we did pgta testing

You could challenge this decision if your area doesn't offer one round by 43rd birthday in line with most areas/ NICE guidelines.

To be successful at 43 you need to have upper 10% of the population fertility, incredible luck, or be prepared to do multiple rounds to throw numbers at the issue.

Do you already know your AMH/ AFC and FSH? Egg quality can't be known from these numbers - whether high or low - but it's a good starting point to assess your situation.

@CointreauQuaint I also had major delays due to COVID and living overseas where even private treatment was consistent delays, I had a fertility MOT and have an ambulance of 17.9 now was higher 2 years ago had done 2 rounds got pregnant twice, first round UK but low meds, unfortunately early miscarriage but we didn't test the embryos as I had a good amh, just on my third round have a positive test scan tomorrow to check viability as have had a huge bleed so not feeling hopeful, looking back I would have tested, however they are happy to carry on with my own eggs for a few more rounds, it all is personal fertility. There is the option of donor eggs with a high success rate, I am still going overseas for my treatment purely as they use a higher strength drug from the start. It's definitely worth getting all the tests done so you have a clear outlook

Hi lovely. It's very hard to say. Fertility does decline with age, unfortunately egg quality goes downhill after 40 but many women still have successful pregnancies . I know of two women , One who is currently pregnant 41 and the other 44 who just had a baby so it does happen many of the eggs won't be chromosomly normal? Thats the hardest part of getting older so It's finding that one good egg.
My Advice is its different for every women. Have you had any initial testing done? Do.you know your amh ? I would second going to get a MOT and speak to consultant it'll give you a better idea about your own particular fertility .
I just had an assessment, including consultation , amh test, various blood tests and urine tests and it cost me £800

I’m currently in the middle of IVF to try for a sibling. We had 3 full cycles when I was 38/39, had some embryos PGTA tested (2 fresh transfer fails) which left us with 3 upload embryos…one of those resulted in our little boy. I was pregnant at 40, the others failed even though they were euploids.

I’m now nearly 43 and just done 3 back to back rounds…results have been terrible and nothing came from the first two rounds but we were lucky to get 2 embryos make it to day 5 on the last round. Not tested and currently both are in. The chances are soooo low with them but it’s still a chance.

Quality is the main issue as we get older, the more eggs you can get gives you a little bit more of a chance but as everyone says, you just need that one lucky egg that goes all the way.

Definitely go to private fertility specialists and take their advice, non fertility specialists don’t really have a clue as they haven’t done all the relevant checks…and I was diagnosed completely wrong by the nhs fertility specialists too!

Fingers crossed for your viability scan!!! Amazing news! I just read your PCOS misdiagnosis and we had exactly the same during Covid!!!

@Brownowl83sorry, I misread that! Congratulations on your viability scan!!!! 🥳🥳🥳

@MammaKG thank you!

Its been a wild ride for sure - wishing you all the best ✨❤️