pregnancy
What do IVF success rates really look like after 38?
Every clinic has its own stats, but Dr Oosthuizen says the global pattern is remarkably consistent – even if the numbers can feel harsh.
She reminds patients:“ Someone is not‘ 25 % pregnant’ – they are either 100 % pregnant or not pregnant.” Still, numbers help to frame expectations:
Late 30s:“ Around 25 – 35 % live birth per transfer with own eggs.”
Early 40s:“ A sharp drop; often 10 – 15 % per transfer, sometimes lower.”
Mid-40s and beyond:
“ Success rates with own eggs become very low.”
“ By contrast, donor-egg IVF success rates are generally linked to the age of the donor( often in their 20s to early 30s), so even for women in their 40s, success rates can be similar to that younger age group if the embryo is genetically normal and the uterus is healthy,” explains Dr Oosthuizen.“ Genetically normal embryos usually have about a 65 % chance of a successful pregnancy; that’ s still one in three women who will not be pregnant.”
So when do donor eggs become part of the conversation? Dr Oosthuizen brings up donor eggs when a woman is over 40 and has had several unsuccessful cycles, has very low AMH or AFC, or when repeated aneuploid embryos or chromosomal miscarriages suggest egg quality is the limiting factor.
“ Donor eggs are not‘ giving up’; they are simply acknowledging that the uterus can still carry a pregnancy, but the egg supply has reached a biological limit.”
The buzz around ovarian rejuvenation
PRP injections, stem cells, mitochondrial transfer – the headlines are tantalising. But Dr Oosthuizen urges caution.
“ At the moment, many of these are still in the experimental or early research phase,” she explains. There’ s a lot of interest, but not much solid evidence that these methods improve live birth rates in older women.
The tools that are proven?“ Optimised stimulation protocols, good lab conditions, PGT( preimplantation genetic testing) where appropriate, and attention to the metabolic environment.”
As she puts it:“ The‘ sexy’ new technologies may be interesting, but they should be approached with caution.”
Later-life pregnancy is possible, but it comes with biological realities that are easier to navigate when someone walks you through them with care and clarity.
If there’ s one message Dr Oosthuizen hopes women take away, it’ s that good information is empowering, not discouraging. As Beverley points out, so many women are choosing to have children later in life.“ Don’ t wait and live a life of regret; life has a mysterious way of working out. If you want to be a mom, go for it.” �
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