IVF at 40?

[sabrosina]

We were very blessed to have a perfectly healthy and charming little man when I was 36. I'm sure all of you going through IVF have had the "a woman of your age" talk about how unlikely it is to work... blah blah blah. But we beat the odds the first time I imagine we can do it again, yes? I want to do this anyway. I want my son to have a sibling.

Am I crazy? Except for fallopian tubes tied in knots from endo, I'm super fertile. We harvested 21 eggs and 9 fertilized at 36. Does that much happen between 36 and 40 to lessen chances of success?

<crossing my fingers>

[Leersia]

Hi there! I will be sending much baby dust your way!! The bad news is that, from what I have seen (my RE showed me a chart), a woman's fertility does really take a nose dive between 35 and 40, so that sucks. However, I think the fact that you had such a great success rate at 36 will really work in your favor (any embryos in deep freeze?), because those charts are for the population as a whole, and not individuals. I had twins at 36 from IVF, and I'm done, but my friend had a singleton at 41 and twins at 44. Think positively and eat a lot of protein during your cycle - I have heard anecdotally that it helps with egg quality. Good luck!

Sue

[FallingLeaves]

I would get your 3 days labs done on your next cycle. At 35 I had fsh of 5 and estrogen of 30. I had 11 eggs retrieved, 8 fertlized, 4 made it to tranfer and we have a 21 month old dd. Now I am 38, had my 3 day labs and was shocked that fsh is 12 and estrogen is 52. On a positive note, my RE said I still have a chance of getting pregnant if I do an IVF cycle soon. Good Luck!

[Daffodil]

I think a lot can happen between 36 and 40, but people vary so much that some are still pretty fertile at 40. I did IVF just before I turned 40, and again just after, and got pregnant both times. (The first one ended in an early miscarriage.) Then I got pregnant naturally at 43. (Well, technically at 42 - I got the positive test on my 43rd birthday.) As the PP said, getting some tests done will give you a much better idea what your personal chances are at 40.

[sabrosina]

Thanks for the thoughts. I'm going to call my doctors today to schedule a consult. Wish me luck!

[Grace24]

Just wanted to say...I have two coworkers who both had perfectly healthy babies at age 45 last year. One of them had had at least a couple of miscarriages that I knew about over the years. Both were surprises, both completely healthy, no complications.

I think when they do those fertility statistics they take everyone into consideration, women who've had "female trouble" and all...I'm 36 but I ignore them because I've always been healthy, with regular cycles and no STD's or anything. Even saw an ultrasound of my reproductive system and it's all good. So if you feel your body can handle it, go for it! Good luck!

[NC EcoMaMa]

Hi Dawn! I didn't know you posted over here. I hardly get time to come read, but today Ronnie is taking a super long nap.

I have my everything crossed for you!

Jo