Are you over 40 and interested in IVF? Here you'll find everything about the success rate of IVF in your age group and what you can do to improve your chances.
Everything You Need to Know About IVF Success Rates Over 40
- For women between 40 and 42 years of age, the success rate per IVF cycle is around 10–20%.
- Egg reserve and quality have a significant impact on IVF success rates and also influence the risk of miscarriage.
- Women over 40 often require multiple IVF cycles to achieve pregnancy.
- Assisted reproduction generally offers higher success rates than trying to conceive naturally.
- Egg freezing before the age of 35 can improve your chances of having a baby later in life.
Over 40? Early Advice Can Boost Your Chances of Success
Are you over 40 and hoping to have a child? You're not alone. More and more women are choosing to start their families later in life — whether due to career plans, not having found the right partner or other personal circumstances.
But as time goes on, important questions often arise: What are my chances of getting pregnant? Should I try naturally, or would it be better to seek medical support?
In this article, you'll find all the key information about IVF success rates for women over 40, tips on how to improve your chances, and when it might be time to visit a fertility clinic.
What Are the IVF Success Rates for Women Over 40?
If you're considering IVF treatment, it's important to have realistic expectations. Success rates do decline with age — but even over 40, it’s still very possible to become pregnant.
- Women under 35: Success rates of up to 45% per treatment cycle
- Women aged 40 to 42: Around 10–20% per cycle
- Women over 42: Often less than 5% per cycle, though success rates may improve with egg donation (in vitro fertilization with donor eggs is currently not permitted in Switzerland and Germany)
Why are the success rates lower?
As a woman gets older, egg quality naturally declines. This also affects the quality of the embryos, which in turn reduces the chances of a successful pregnancy.
What Are the Chances of Getting Pregnant Naturally After 40?
At 40, the chances of conceiving naturally are lower than at a younger age — but by no means impossible. The monthly pregnancy rate is around 5–10%.
By comparison, women under 30 have a 20–25% chance of conceiving per cycle.
Why Is It More Difficult to Conceive After 40?
- Low ovarian reserve: From birth, your body has a limited number of eggs, and this number decreases over time. As you age, your ovarian reserve — the number of eggs in your ovaries — declines. Ovulation may become less frequent, and your cycles may become irregular.
- Egg quality: With age, not only does the number of eggs decline, but their quality is also affected. Remaining eggs are more likely to have chromosomal abnormalities, which can reduce the chances of pregnancy and increase the risk of miscarriage.
- Health factors: Conditions such as fibroids or endometriosis become more common with age and can affect fertility. Hormonal changes and irregular cycles can also make it more difficult to conceive later in life.
But remember — every woman is unique, and statistics can’t predict your individual fertility. Our fertility specialists can provide a thorough fertility assessment to help you understand your personal chances.
Social Egg Freezing – Planning Ahead for the Future
You might be considering freezing your eggs now to try for a baby later on. Social egg freezing is a great way to give yourself more time for family planning while increasing the chances of having a child with your own eggs later in life. Ideally, this step should be taken before the age of 35, when egg quality is still at its peak.
How Can You Check Your Ovarian Reserve?
If you're curious about your current fertility status, there are two tests that can give you an initial indication:
- The AMH Test
The Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) level gives an estimate of how many eggs you have left. A lower AMH level may suggest that your time to conceive is more limited. - Antral Follicle Count (AFC)
During an ultrasound, your doctor will look at how many small follicles are developing in your ovaries. This helps assess your ovarian reserve more accurately.
These tests can help you make informed decisions and plan your next steps — including seeking timely support if needed. If your egg reserve is already low, it may be wise not to delay treatment.
Pregnancy Rates: Natural Conception vs. Fertility Treatment
At 40, there are essentially two paths to fulfilling your wish to have a child: you can try to conceive naturally, or you can seek medical support through fertility treatment.
While natural conception is still possible for many women over 40, fertility treatments generally offer higher success rates. The risk of miscarriage can also be reduced, especially if preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is carried out. This procedure involves screening embryos for genetic abnormalities before transfer, increasing the chances of a successful pregnancy.
Here’s an overview of your options and how they can help improve your chances of conceiving:
Natural Conception
Even in your 40s, spontaneous pregnancy can still happen. The key is to have regular intercourse around the time of ovulation. Cycle tracking apps, ovulation calculators or ovulation tests can help you understand your cycle better and pinpoint your most fertile days.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
In IUI, your partner’s sperm is placed directly into your uterus. This method can be suitable if there are only minor fertility issues. However, for women over 40, the success rate is relatively low — around 5%.
In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
IVF is one of the most well-known assisted reproduction techniques and is particularly helpful when natural chances are declining. Your eggs are retrieved, fertilised in the lab, and then transferred into your uterus. For women around the age of 40, the success rate per cycle is between 10% and 15%.
ICSI – A Variation of IVF
If your partner’s sperm has difficulty penetrating the egg, the ICSI method may be used. With Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), a single sperm is injected directly into the egg. The success rates are similar to those of standard IVF.
How Important Is Sperm Quality When Trying for a Baby After 40?
Sperm quality plays a crucial role in both natural conception and assisted reproduction. Good sperm quality increases the chances of pregnancy — not only for younger women, but also for those over 40. However, as men age, sperm quality can also decline, which may reduce fertilisation rates.
The Role of Sperm in Fertility Treatments
In procedures like IUI or IVF, sperm quality becomes especially important. When sperm quality is significantly reduced, ICSI is often used. In this method, a single healthy sperm is injected directly into the egg — a technique commonly applied when sperm count or motility is low.
If your partner’s sperm quality is too low for fertilisation, using donor sperm may be a helpful option to increase your chances of getting pregnant.
When Does Sperm Donation Make Sense, Particularly for Women Over 40?
As women age, egg quality decreases, and the chances of natural conception reduce. If your partner’s sperm quality is also compromised — for example, due to a low sperm count or poor motility — sperm donation can be a valuable option to help fulfil your desire to have a child. Donor sperm can improve the chances of success in fertility treatments, as high-quality donor sperm may offer a higher fertilisation rate.
It’s important to have a personal discussion with your fertility specialist to determine whether sperm donation is a suitable option for you to increase your chances of pregnancy.
How Many Eggs Do Women Over 40 Need for IVF?
For older women, particularly those over 40, a common question is how many eggs are needed for a successful embryo transfer. The answer is not straightforward, as it depends on various factors, such as the quality and number of available eggs, as well as the method used in fertility treatment.
Number of Eggs for Embryo Transfer Over 40
In general, more eggs are required to increase the chances of pregnancy as a woman gets older. This is because both the quantity and quality of eggs decline with age.
- More Eggs for Better Chances
For women over 40, it is advisable to retrieve a larger number of eggs to improve the likelihood of a successful embryo transfer. Since egg quality decreases with age, having more eggs increases the chances of obtaining a healthy embryo. Fertility clinics typically aim to retrieve at least 8-10 eggs. However, this can be more challenging for older women whose ovarian reserve is limited. - Quality Over Quantity
The quality of the eggs plays a crucial role. A larger number of eggs increases the likelihood that at least one will be of good quality for embryo transfer. This means that for older women, even if fewer eggs are retrieved, egg quality is a more important factor for success. In many cases, all retrieved eggs are fertilised and cultured into embryos. The best embryo is then selected for transfer. - Multiple IVF Cycles
It may also be necessary to undergo several cycles of IVF to collect enough eggs, especially if only a few good-quality eggs are produced.
Possible Challenges of IVF for Women Over 40
- Lower Number of Usable Eggs: In women over 40, the number of eggs that can be retrieved often decreases significantly because the ovaries are less active.
- Lower Fertilisation Rate: Even when eggs are retrieved, the likelihood that they will be successfully fertilised and develop into healthy embryos is lower.
Our Recommendation for You
Just like in Switzerland, egg donation is also banned in Germany, a possibility that could help many women and couples in their fertility journey. While in Germany, the costs for IVF and ICSI are largely covered by health insurance for women under 40, couples in Switzerland still have to pay for IVF/ICSI themselves unless they have additional insurance.
Find out more about the best tips on how to get pregnant after 40 from Lora Shahine.
Takeaway: Individualised Advice at the Fertility Clinic for Women Over 40
Fulfilling your desire to have a child after 40 is definitely achievable, both naturally and with medical support. IVF offers higher success rates than natural conception, but it comes with its own set of challenges. Factors such as egg reserve, sperm quality, and overall health play an important role. Early fertility assessment and personalised advice at a fertility clinic are highly recommended to find the best strategy for fulfilling your dream of having a child.
