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Maximum Age for Donor Egg IVF: Understanding Limitations and Considerations
The advent and widespread implementation of new technologies in medicine makes it possible for women of mature age to become pregnant and give birth to a healthy child. Just 30-40 years ago, getting pregnant at 40-50 years old was considered a pathology. Today, it is considered the norm since IVF is no longer exotic. Now IVF is a routine procedure used by millions of couples suffering from infertility or low fertility. The age of pregnant women and women who have given birth to a baby for the first time is steadily increasing. Today it is approximately 27-31 years old. After the donor egg IVF became available to everyone who wants to have a child, many women prefer to devote their young years to a career and building a solid financial platform.
Important. Despite the fact that medicine has made great strides forward, it is not easy to get pregnant after 40 years even with the help of IVF. Therefore, if there are problems with fertility, treatment should be started as early as possible.
Statistics on the success of IVF cycles say that on the first attempt it occurs in:
- 43% of women under 30;
- 48% of women aged 30-31;
- 44% after 32 years;
- 40% at 35 years of age;
- 32% reached 37;
- 22% at 39;
- 13% at 41;
- 6% at 43;
- 2% over 44.
Successful fertilization is more common in the second and third attempts, as shown by the graph below. However, even here, not everything is so clear-cut, since with age, in addition to decreased fertility, many chronic diseases develop that negatively affect the functioning of the reproductive system. Therefore, the optimal age to overcome infertility is 35-39 years.
The egg donor always undergoes a thorough examination before donating eggs. The criteria are very strict.
- The donor's age is 18-34 years.
- Ideal mental and physical health.
- Genetic, chronic, hereditary abnormalities are unacceptable.
- Preference is given to people with a neutral appearance.
- No excess weight or tendency to gain weight.
- No bad habits.
- A plus is the presence of your own child, who has no developmental disabilities.
The donor must willingly undergo all the prescribed examinations according to the schedule created by the doctors of the reproductology center.
The egg donor always undergoes a thorough examination before donating eggs. The criteria are very strict.
- The donor's age is 18-34 years.
- Ideal mental and physical health.
- Genetic, chronic, hereditary abnormalities are unacceptable.
- Preference is given to people with a neutral appearance.
- No excess weight or tendency to gain weight.
- No bad habits.
- A plus is the presence of your own child, who has no developmental disabilities.
The donor must willingly undergo all the prescribed examinations according to the schedule created by the doctors of the reproductology center.
Fertility is the natural ability of women to conceive, bear and give birth to a child. Nature has ensured that a woman, if she follows simple rules, can ensure the reproduction of the family. According to statistics, a woman aged 25-35 who lives a stable sex life and does not use contraception:
- in 20-22% of cases, she conceives a child within a month;
- 50% of women become pregnant within 3 months;
- 60% within six months;
- 90% of pregnancy will occur if attempts are continued for 1-1.5 years.
Fertility decreases with age. Among the main factors that negatively affect the ability to conceive, bear and give birth to a baby, several main ones can be identified.
- Stress that women face every day in everyday life and at work.
- Smoking regular or electronic cigarettes.
- Alcohol or drug abuse.
- Overweight.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Poor ecology.
- Working in hazardous industries.
- A large number of frequently changing sexual partners.
- Poor nutrition, lack of regular sleep.
With age, fertility is affected by negative changes in the body.
- Oocyte maturation is impaired.
- No ovulation.
- Development of obstruction of the fallopian tubes.
- Deterioration of the endometrium.
- Congenital or developed anomalies of the female genital organs.
- Ovarian reserve will decrease.
- The condition of the cervix worsens.
- Development of isthmic-cervical insufficiency.
- Chronic diseases such as gestational diabetes that negatively affect fertility.
- Poor genetic heredity.
Note. You can only understand the reasons for the decline in fertility by undergoing a full examination at the reproductive center. The NGC Clinic provides all the necessary services to solve infertility problems.
Today, each reproductive center has its own age limit for IVF. You can get advice on any issues related to infertility, low fertility, and the use of donor eggs by phone or by leaving a request on the official website of the NGC clinic.
- The optimal age for IVF is 35.
- After 40, the chances drop rapidly.
- The closer to 50, the lower the chances of getting pregnant, carrying and giving birth to a child.
Reproductive centers immediately tell visitors how great their chances are of giving birth to a baby after a comprehensive examination.
It should be understood that the later you start fighting infertility and poor fertility, the more difficult it is to achieve a positive result. In women over 40 and men over 39, the ability of the reproductive organs to function will sharply decline. This should be taken into account when planning to use an IVF cycle.
Physical Health and Pregnancy Risks
Before the IVF procedure, you will need to consult a specialist. He will collect anamnesis and give the necessary recommendations.
- Excess weight has a negative effect on the reproductive system.
- The optimal level of the endometrial size decreases.
- Development of fallopian tube pathologies.
- Poor genetics.
- A decrease in the effectiveness of the immune system.
- Poor condition of the uterus.
- Poor embryo development.
Smoking, strict diets, alcohol, visiting baths, non-compliance with the diet negatively affect the course of IVF.
To become a full-fledged parent, you need to be emotionally and psychologically prepared for this. This is not easy and requires a clear understanding that while the baby is developing in the mother's womb, she will lose the opportunity to lead a normal life. You will need to give up many habits and, first of all, do what is good for the baby. No less responsibility falls on the future father. An experienced family psychologist will help here.
Do not forget. The more attention you pay to preparing for the IVF procedure, the greater the chances of a positive result, pregnancy and childbirth without complications.
Use the services of only proven, reliable reproductive centers, then the risks after IVF will be minimal. The NGC clinic is equipped with the necessary equipment and the staff is able to cope with any tasks. At the same time, it is necessary to remember the possible risks.
- Development of an ectopic pregnancy.
- Multiple pregnancy.
- Ovarian torsion.
- Fears of developing oncology are not confirmed by statistics.
There are no objective reasons to be afraid of IVF, but it is necessary to strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations to avoid possible complications.
Ethical problems of IVF arise among some religious movements, where the divine principle of the continuation of the human race comes first. However, even there, when infertility problems arise, many people turn to reproductive centers. Age-related low fertility can disappear if donor eggs from relatives are used, which removes ethical barriers.
Social and family consequences
In social terms, the birth rate is a key issue for some countries. Therefore, there are no ethical barriers in them. Of course, difficulties may arise for each specific family, but they can be easily avoided.
- A woman can use her own eggs stored in a cryobank.
- Close relatives can become donors.
- You want to have a child so much that ethical issues are not taken into account.
Everyone decides for themselves how important social and ethical standards are for them when choosing an IVF cycle.
Special attention to women who have decided on an IVF cycle after 40 years is fully justified. A thorough health check is required, therefore, screening is carried out especially carefully with additional laboratory and machine studies.
- A detailed study of the medical history of the couple.
- Study of the reproductive system of the man and woman.
- An individual IVF protocol is selected.
- An oocyte donor is selected.
- An innovative technique is determined.
Professional training of personnel and the use of modern equipment play a major role in the effective fight against infertility and low fertility.
An important part of the IVF cycle is the psychological assessment of recipients. People will have to overcome serious difficulties. They must clearly understand what they are getting into. Here, you cannot do without the support of family, friends and an experienced psychotherapist. Keep in mind that a child will not appear by magic; serious work is required and many habits will have to be abandoned. Prepare to overcome many challenges and eventually experience the joy of motherhood.
To understand what difficulties a woman will face when deciding on an IVF cycle, study the average world data.
- Up to 43% of women under 30 become pregnant with IVF.
- 40% of women after 35 show a positive result.
- The indicator drops to 13% at 40 years.
- Only 2 percent after 44.
- No more than 1% at 50.
Statistics show that the sooner you start fighting low fertility, the greater your chances of getting pregnant and giving birth.
To achieve the maximum positive effect after an IVF cycle, you should pay close attention to several factors.
- The age of the expectant mother.
- How far the aging of the ovaries has gone.
- A drop in fertility.
- How the inner lining of the uterus holds the embryo.
- How high the risk of endometriosis and fibroids is.
- Surgical operations that can negatively affect fertility.
- Excess weight.
- Tobacco and alcohol abuse.
- Frequent stress.
- Vaginal infections.
- Low immunity.
- Hormonal imbalances.
- Decreased ovarian reserve.
A thorough examination will help to identify hidden problems and develop the right treatment that will increase the chances of a good result after IVF.
Valery. For many years, I was focused on career and personal success. When I became the director of a successful company, I decided to devote time to my family and become a mother. Thanks to my husband, who supported me all these years and was understanding about using the IVF cycle, since we could not get pregnant in the usual way. By that time, I was already over 45 and my husband was 51. The doctors at the reproductive center were very caring and confident. The full examination took almost 3 months. Each result required new tests. In the end, the donor egg method won and after the 3rd transfer cycle I got pregnant. The pregnancy was not easy, but we managed to overcome everything. Now our baby is already 2 years old and it is such a joy to watch him grow that it is impossible to describe.
Lana. After 35, when I had already established myself as a successful psychologist, I decided to have a child. But problems began. I couldn’t get pregnant. I wasn’t that old, but all my attempts were unsuccessful. My mood started to sink and I felt not being in control anymore. Thanks to my husband, he took matters into his own hands and insisted on visiting a fertility clinic. It would probably have taken a lot more time to decide on my own and pull the trigger. It turned out that my AMH was very low and my ovaries were depleted. The doctor explained the possible reasons, she was on the point, very attentive and professional. I was asked to consider IVF with a donor egg. Despite my medical background, I wasn’t prepared for this at all. Probably no one really is prepared for it, anyway. It took me about 5 months of stewing and accustoming myself to this idea. I thought, if this is the way for me to become a mother and love the baby, what reasons exist to postpone even further? The road will be mastered by the one who walks it. Many thanks to the doctors who managed to prepare my lining and make the embryo implant first-try.
Christine. By 41, I achieved everything I wanted. I have never had a husband, or time to build a family. When I decided to have a child, it turned out that my train had left. It was impossible to get pregnant using my own egg and donor sperm. All my embryos either stopped developing or were genetically abnormal, despite me being in my early 40s... I felt depleted, but my strong Irish character and my doctor came to the rescue. I pulled myself together, no tears, no hysteria, only forward to victory. I reread a lot of articles, studied additional information, and went into battle, but used a double donor program this time. We started when I had my donor embryos ready and genetically tested. In general, I went through all the tests, supportive therapy, injections, etc. With NGC, I was able to decide on the egg and the sperm donor myself. After 4 years and 2 embryo transfers, I have two beautiful kids. It is exciting to see how much they look like their genetic parents, the egg and the sperm donors.
Making a decision: important questions to ask
When deciding to use an IVF program, you need to study in detail what you will have to face. It is better to discuss all the details together several times, so as not to give up on the intended goal halfway.
- Think if you feel ready to invest yourself in the demanding project. IVF requires you to spend time on planning and be attentive to various details.
- Determine how stable your financial situation is. A technique such as PGT-a of embryos will surely increase the results of your program. However, it implies a bigger investment than usual.
- Decide if you are planning to have just one, or several babies. Depending on that, it may be worth leaving the remaining embryos in storage after a successful transfer, and allocate some funds for yearly storage fees.
- IVF requires mutual effort from both partners. Discuss with them the need for all the prescribed tests and lifestyle changes. Make sure that your husband is as informed about the process as you.
- Fertility treatment is a very private and intimate subject. Try to imagine yourself talking about IVF with your friends and relatives. Make sure to first disclose this very personal story to those who genuinely care about you.
A detailed discussion of the problems that have arisen in the upcoming IVF cycle will help you overcome all the difficulties together.
Legal aspects of IVF with donor eggs for older women
Before using an IVF cycle with donor eggs, consult with an experienced lawyer. A specialist with experience in this area will immediately prepare all the necessary contracts, all that remains is to sign the documents so that there are no difficulties after childbirth.
Parental rights
After giving birth, you will immediately become a mother and father. No additional permissions are required. The child will only need your love and care so that he or she grows up a happy person.
Inheritance laws
To avoid any legal conflicts, consult a lawyer about the inheritance of donor eggs. No additional documents are required, but it is better to double-check because the legislation is not always perfect.