IVF Over 40: Fertility, Success Rates, and Treatment Options – SAKALLI IVF
In recent decades, many women have chosen to delay childbearing due to career development, personal circumstances, or finding the right partner later in life. As a result, fertility clinics increasingly support patients over the age of 40 who wish to conceive with IVF Fertility Treatment in Cyprus.
If you are considering IVF after 40, it is natural to have questions such as:
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Is pregnancy still possible at this age?
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What are the realistic success rates?
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What treatment options are available to improve the chances of conception?
At SAKALLI IVF, we frequently manage fertility cases involving women in their forties and provide personalised treatment strategies based on the latest advances in reproductive medicine.
Understanding IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation)
In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is one of the most widely used assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The procedure involves fertilising an egg with sperm outside the body under controlled laboratory conditions.
The standard IVF process consists of several stages:
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Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS): Hormonal medications—primarily gonadotropins (FSH and LH analogues)—are used to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple follicles within a single menstrual cycle.
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Oocyte Retrieval: Eggs are collected using transvaginal ultrasound?guided follicular aspiration under mild sedation.
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Fertilisation: Retrieved oocytes are fertilised with sperm in the laboratory either through conventional IVF or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).
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Embryo Development: Embryos are cultured in specialised incubators and monitored until the blastocyst stage (day 5–6).
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Embryo Transfer: The best quality embryo is transferred into the uterus under ultrasound guidance.
Age-Related Fertility Decline
Female fertility declines progressively with age due to both quantitative and qualitative changes in ovarian reserve.
- Women are born with approximately 1–2 million oocytes at birth
- Around 300,000–400,000 at puberty
By the late 30s and early 40s, ovarian reserve declines significantly and the proportion of genetically normal eggs decreases.
Studies show increasing embryo aneuploidy rates:
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Age 30: ~30–35%
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Age 40: ~60–70%
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Age 43–44: up to 80–90%
Because of these changes, natural fertility declines considerably.
IVF Success Rates Over 40
IVF can improve the chances of pregnancy compared to natural conception, although success rates decline with age.
International ART registries such as CDC, ESHRE and HFEA report average live birth rates per IVF cycle using a patient’s own eggs:
| Age Group | Live Birth Rate |
|---|---|
| Age 40 | 15–20% |
| Age 41–42 | 10–15% |
| Age 43–44 | 3–8% |
| Age 45+ | Less than 2% |
The main limiting factor is egg quality rather than the IVF technique itself.
Role of Genetic Testing
For patients over 38–40 years of age, specialists may recommend Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A, NGS).
PGT-A allows embryologists to evaluate embryos for chromosomal abnormalities before transfer. Potential benefits include:
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Selecting chromosomally normal embryos
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Reducing miscarriage risk
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Improving implantation potential
When to Seek Fertility Evaluation
According to international reproductive medicine guidelines:
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Under 35: seek medical advice after 12 months of trying
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Age 35–38: after 6 months
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Age 39+: after 3 months
Many specialists recommend immediate fertility assessment after age 40.
Evaluation typically includes:
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AMH hormone testing
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LH, FSH levels
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Antral follicle count (AFC)
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Uterine assessment
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Semen analysis for the partner
Personalised Fertility Care at SAKALLI IVF
At SAKALLI IVF, every treatment plan is tailored to the individual reproductive profile of each patient.
Our clinic provides:
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Advanced IVF and ICSI treatments
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Individualised ovarian stimulation protocols
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Preimplantation genetic testing
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Egg donation programmes
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International patient coordination
Why Choose SAKALLI IVF for Your Journey?
Achieving up to 85% success rates for patients over 40 using advanced donor programs.
Utilizing NGS and PGT-A to ensure only healthy embryos are selected for transfer.
Tailored ovarian stimulation designed specifically for late-reproductive age profiles.
Dedicated coordination for international patients to make the IVF journey seamless.
Are You over 40 and Considering Fertility Treatment?
Book a video consultation with our SAKALLI IVF Clinic in Nicosia Cyprus team to discuss your medical history, evaluate your fertility options, and receive personalised guidance for your IVF journey.
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