Fertility Treatment in Your 40s

Age affects the success of fertility treatments, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), fertility drugs and in vitro fertilization (IVF).

For example, in women over 40, the success rate of using fertility drugs with intrauterine insemination is generally less than 5 percent per cycle, according to ASRM.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is more effective for women in their 40s. At HRC Fertility, the success rate for a woman using fresh embryos from non-donor eggs is 24 percent for a woman 41 and older.

If you are older and have not succeeded with other fertility treatments or you have premature ovarian failure (early menopause), egg donation from a younger woman could be the right choice for you. Your chance of getting pregnant during an IVF cycle is much higher, and your risk of miscarriage is much lower if you use using donor eggs from a younger woman.

At HRC Fertility, the ongoing pregnancy rate for women using donor eggs and IVF is 58 percent for all ages combined .

A gestational carrier is an option for women who cannot carry a pregnancy to term for medical reasons or due to problems with the uterus. With a gestational carrier, the intended mother’s eggs, or donor eggs are fertilized by the male partner's sperm or donor sperm, and the resulting embryo is placed in the uterus of the gestational carrier. The gestational carrier is not related to the child genetically and gives the baby to you and your partner at birth.  If you are over the age of 35 and have been trying to conceive for six months or longer, schedule a consultation with an HRC fertility doctor to determine if fertility treatment is right for you.