IVF and Age - Impact of Female Aging on In Vitro Fertilization Statistics

Posted on September 11, 2020 by Inception Fertility

Both egg quantity and egg quality are very much related to female age


Testing Egg Quality and Quantity


We do not have a test foregg quality. The best test of egg quality is actually the woman's age. Egg quality translates over to embryo quality - which is by far the most important factor determining if IVF works. We do have testing foregg quantitythat we call "ovarian reserve" tests. These egg supply tests are discussed elsewhere.

 




In Vitro Fertilization Success Rate Statistics by Female Age


We will use charts and graphs to illustrate important points about age and IVF success.

See our IVF success rates

The graphs below are from the 2014 ART Success Rates report published by the CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a US government agency. The report summarizes national data from about 450 clinics and about 200,000 IVF treatments.



This chart is US national average data on success rates per IVF cycle by female age for 2014. The dark blue line (triangles) showspregnancy ratesper cycle by age. The orange line (circles) showslive birth ratesper cycle by age. The rate of singleton live births per cycle is shown by the light blue line. The difference between "pregnancy" rate and "live birth" rate is due to miscarriages.

  • The data shows the impact of advancing female age on IVF success.

  • We can see that the success rate curve starts dropping at about age 30

  • It drops faster starting at about age 35 - and then the drop is linear down to 1% live birth success rate by age 45






 

This chart is also from the 2014 CDC Report. The IVF live birth rates per cycle started for different age groups are circled in red. The percent of IVF cycles that made it as far as an egg retrieval, an embryo transfer and a pregnancy are also shown.

  • As women age the probability of reaching egg retrieval or embryo transfer drops


  • With aging, the probability of pregnancy and live birth drops even more

    • This is because the rate ofembryo implantationdecreases with age

    • Decreased embryo implantation is due toembryo qualityissues

    • The decline in embryo quality is due to increasingchromosomal abnormalities in eggswith advancing age

    • Chromosomal abnormalities in embryos can be screened for prior to transferring withpreimplantation genetic screeniing, PGS

    • Miscarriage rates increase with age

      • Shown by the difference in "pregnancy" and "live birth" rates on this graph

      • Increased miscarriage rates are also due to increased rates of chromosomally abnormal embryos










US National Average IVF Live Birth Rates and Our Program's Statistics for 2016


Our IVF success ratesexceed national averages

IUI Success Rates

Our success rate for IVF in 2016 (age < 35) was 54% and the national average was 40%.


Our egg donation success rate for 2016 was 88% and the national average was 50%.

Data above is from the 2016 SART Report
Links to the SART and CDC Reports
- check any clinic's success rates




High quality IVF results in better embryo qualitywhich leads to better chances for successful outcomes - at any age.


Low quality day 3 embryo

Significant cellular fragmentation is evident.


High quality day 5 blastocyst

This embryo has a high chance to implant.Blastocyst transfercan increase implantation.





MoreIVF embryo pictures



In this graph from the 2015 CDC Report, the green line shows IVF success rates by age using the woman's own eggs The blue line shows success rates using donor eggs by age of the recipient woman.

  • The graph above shows that on the average IVF success rates using own eggs starts to drop at about 30 and drops faster in the mid 30s and early 40s. This drop is caused by decreasing egg quantity and quality.

  • Live births are rare at age 44 and above using the female partner's eggs.

  • There is no drop in success rate with age when using young donor eggs.

  • The age of the eggs is very important.

  • The age of the recipient (uterine age) has very little effect on success rates when using donor eggs.

    • Most donors are in their 20's - so the "egg age" is excellent with egg donation cycles.




Details of Dr. Sherbahn's research on recipient age and donor egg success rates




Available Treatment for Infertility: In Vitro Fertilization


Many infertility doctors recommend that women over about 38 that are infertile should have aggressive treatment and proceed toin vitro fertilization(IVF) relatively quickly - before all fertility potential is lost.
Most IVF centers are willing to attempt IVF using the female partner's eggs until about age 44 or 45, after which the couple would be offered egg donation as the only realistic advanced fertility treatment.


  • IVF centers in the US do not all use the same upper age cutoff

  • Some clinics do not offer IVF beyond age 42 - others will go to 46 or 47 with own eggs


Read more about age limits for in vitro fertilization

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      Welcome to the Pacific Fertility Center Blog! Nationally and internationally recognized for providing exceptional reproductive care, our team believes in empowering people with the knowledge they need to navigate their unique fertility journeys.

      From information on the latest fertility treatments to valuable insights on egg donation, surrogacy, and everything in between, the Pacific Fertility Center Blog is your ultimate resource for all things reproductive care and support. Read on to learn more, and contact us today if you have any questions or want to schedule a new patient appointment.