Age Limits IVF Treatment: Understanding the Realities
YOU CAN'T HAVE CHILDREN AT ANY AGE
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Age Limits IVF Treatment: Understanding the Realities
Many women delay motherhood for various reasons, such as advancing their careers, pursuing higher education, or not yet finding the right partner, often relying on in vitro fertilization (IVF) as a fallback. However, despite medical advancements, there are age limits to the success of IVF treatments.
Obstetrics, Gynecology, and IVF Specialist, Dr. Leyla Özkabakçı, urges women to consider the importance of age in fertility treatments. She explains why age remains a crucial factor in the success of IVF:
“Advancements in reproductive medicine have made the seemingly impossible possible. Many celebrities have had children through IVF in their 40s and 50s, but these stories can be misleading.
YOU CAN'T HAVE CHILDREN AT ANY AGE
The idea of delaying motherhood with the notion ‘I can have a baby whenever I want through IVF’ is a misconception.
IVF does not guarantee a 100% success rate. The global average success rate of taking home a baby after IVF treatment does not exceed 35%. After age 40, this rate significantly declines.
Even under the best conditions, IVF treatment is successful in only about 50% of cases. Many women need multiple treatment cycles, and sometimes even that isn’t enough. Age is a powerful factor when it comes to reproductive health.
For a healthy couple in their 20s or early 30s, the chance of conceiving each month without assisted reproductive techniques is about 20%. This percentage significantly drops after age 37, and by age 40, a woman’s chance of conceiving per menstrual cycle is less than 10%.
SUCCESS RATE DROPS TO 7%
According to a 2015 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the chance of a woman aged 41 to 42 conceiving with her own eggs through IVF is 14%. This success rate drops to 7% for women aged 43 to 44.
In IVF, the only parameters we can influence are sperm and eggs. Regardless of the method, it is crucial to plan for children before surpassing the age of optimal fertility.”
Dr. Özkabakçı’s insights highlight the importance of understanding the realities of IVF and the significant impact of age on fertility. While IVF offers hope to many, it is essential to recognize its limitations and plan accordingly.
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