Fertility reduces as a woman ages.  They also have a substantially lower rate of  in vitro fertilization IVF. With couple who try to get pregnant on their own, the fertility problem that holds them back is the quality of egg. In the case of  IVF, the issue that holds them back is both egg quality and egg quantity.

Age limit for IVF treatment

Most IVF clinics in the United States have an upper age limit for allowing IVF treatment using your own egg somewhere between the ages of 42 and 45 years of age. Donor eggs are commonly used until about age 49. Some programs will still do it after the age of 50.

The effect of egg quality on IVF treatment

The egg quality is the most critical factor in determining the quality of  the embryo. With IVF treatment, the hope is to get multiple embryos so that the best from the group can be transferred back to the uterus.

A big part of of egg quality depends on the chromosomal status of the egg. The rate of chromosomal abnormalities increases significantly with increasing maternal age. Preimplantation genetic screening PGS can be used to test embryos for chromosomal normalcy before transferring them into the uterus. Embryos with normal chromosomal analysis  after PGS  have a  very high potential of implantation and live births.

The quality of egg remaining in a woman’s uterus doesnot affect natural births. However when going through fertility treatment such as IVF, the quantity of eggs remaining influences response to ovarian stimulating medications. More eggs remaining means that more eggs retrieval with the in vitro cycle. The more eggs to work with, the higher chance for a successful pregnancy.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, in the United States, the live birth rate for each IVF cycle started is approximately:

• 41-43% for women under age 35
• 33-36% for women ages 35 to 37
• 23-27% for women ages 38 to 40
• 13-18% for women ages over 40