Will My Age Affect My Chances of IVF Success?
Many people in Los Angeles County come to our fertility doctors to ask about in vitro fertilization (IVF). It’s a popular and effective way to have children even when facing male and female-factor infertility.
That said, your age could have an impact on IVF success. Our doctors would like to go over some of the basics about IVF and age so you have a better understanding of why your age matters when it comes to building a family. We have offices in Tarzana, Bakersfield, Torrance, and Thousand Oaks, as well as a lab in Encino, CA.
How Age Affects Fertility
Overall, the age of a person can affect the possibility of live birth and the overall health of a child. Generally speaking, we have been able to achieve success with patients of all ages, with numbers higher than the national average. This bar graph shows our IVF success rates:
You can see from the image above that we achieve most of our success with patients younger than 35. Once a patient is older than 40, the success rates dip.
Female Age and IVF Success Rates
A woman’s age tends to have a major impact on the overall success of IVF. This is because women tend to have healthier eggs before the age of 35. As women continue to age, the quality of their eggs can diminish. This can make it more difficult to have a successful live birth.
In addition to the health and viability of a woman’s eggs, there is also an increased risk of medical conditions with advanced age that could put a pregnancy at risk. This includes endometriosis and uterine fibroids.
Male Age and IVF Success Rates
Men can father children until much later in their lives, but there is some informed speculation and research that as men get older, they could put a child’s health at risk.
A 2019 study from the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology found that after the age of 51, men may experience decreased sperm count as well as DNA damage in their sperm cells. This could contribute to birth abnormalities, developmental issues, and even pregnancy loss.
Should You Consider Fertility Preservation?
If you’re unsure about having children and also concerned about health issues later in life, you may want to consider fertility preservation for eggs, sperm, and embryos. This process involves cryopreservation, with extreme cold allowing you to have children through fertility treatment years later. Cryopreservation in your 20s or early 30s may be the best way to improve the success of later IVF treatment.
There’s Always Hope: How a Fertility Doctor Can Help
Even if you are over 40, there is still a chance of starting a family. When you come to our fertility clinics serving Los Angeles County, we can discuss different options to have children and consider the success rates given your current situation.
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Contact the Center for Fertility and Gynecology
If you would like to learn more about your fertility treatment options and how our team can help you, contact our Los Angeles County fertility centers today. We have offices located in Tarzana, Bakersfield, Torrance, and Thousand Oaks, as well as a lab in Encino, CA. We look forward to hearing from you.