Age and IVF Success — The Biology, The Numbers, and What It Means for You

The core biology: Women are born with all the eggs they will ever have (approximately 1–2 million at birth). By puberty, this falls to 400,000. By 37, it typically falls below 25,000 — and accelerates from there. More importantly with age, the proportion of chromosomally abnormal eggs increases dramatically: - Age 30: ~20% of eggs are chromosomally abnormal - Age 35: ~40% abnormal - Age 40: ~60–70% abnormal - Age 43+: ~80–90% abnormal This is why IVF success rates fall with age — multiple embryos are created, but fewer are chromosomally viable. With PGT-A (genetic embryo testing): Success per transfer is improved because only normal embryos are transferred. However, PGT-A cannot create more normal embryos — it only identifies which of the ones you have are viable. If reserve is low, there may be fewer embryos to test. The 'wait and see' risk: Delay at 35 becomes urgency at 38. A woman who waits 2 years will typically retrieve significantly fewer eggs and have lower success rates. This is the most common regret Dr. Ankita hears from late-30s patients: 'I wish I had come sooner.' When donor eggs become the right conversation: - Age 43+ with own eggs - AMH < 0.3 at any age - 2–3 failed IVF cycles with poor response - When the evidence clearly shows own-egg chances are too low to justify the emotional and financial cost Dr. Ankita approaches this conversation with compassion and absolute transparency — never pressure.