Any women 38-40 have had successful IVF's with their own eggs?

[Azwoman]

AND what day did you transfer on?? I am going to due an IVF cycle in March and this is my first (and last due to the cost) and I am very uneasy about the stats and success rates for live birth in women my age range. I will be using donor sperm so there is no male factor. He does 5 day transfers as he says he has the most success with them and he does ICSI with every IVF. My AFC is 13, FSH all over the place, AMH is low but I have responded well to a low dose of meds in the past. Now RE is being aggressive and putting me on Estrogen Priming Protocol and 750iu a day of Gonal F. I will also be on Lupron (to suppress ovaries) and Estrace for my uterine lining. Input please- thanks.

[Azwoman]

Thank you very much. I am thinking, every woman is different and there could be other reasons for IVFs failing other than 'age', etc. I had a chemical preg in May so that is kind of a good sign that something fertilized, but the bean didnt stick. I am taking lots of supplements for the past year-CoQ10 (or Urbiquinol), L-Argenine, fish oil (Omega 3), Vit C, Vit D, baby aspirin, folic acid, and I just started acupuncture. I am hoping to be a success story. If this IVF fails, and none of my future FET's work, atleast I know I tried and I will move on to donor embryo or something else more affordable. I have spoken to countless women in their late 30s who have had successful IVFs and I sometimes wonder about how accurate stats are. My RE is not  afraid of us older gals and he says ICSI and day 5 transfers are the absolute best for me, possibly assisted hatching too and I will speak with him about whether that will be done.  I will also be on Estrace and Lupron here before I start injectables. I have a whole protocol I need to follow. Thanks!! and SSBD!

[Hoping2BAMom]

I was 38 when we started IVF.  Unfortunately, it took us three tries before it was successful.  My husband's insurance paid for them, but by the third one we had hit our max and knew it would be our last try.  

For our first cycle, we had a doctor less experienced with women over 35, so I think it was doomed from the start.  We swithced doctors for our second cycle and it went MUCH better, more mature eggs produced and fertilized and we even had one left over to freeze on day 6.  Our new doctor also only did 5 day transfers (the first Dr did a 3 day), because he too said he had more success with them.  Our second cycle wasn't successful, so we ended up doing a FET on our third and last try and it was the lucky one for us.  I'm 17 weeks pregnant today.  

Like Jennie1211, I had to take Lupron, Follistim, Estrace, Menopur and then of course the "wonderful" Progesterone injections.  I also didn't know alot about additional supplements or acupuncture, so I haven't done any of it either.  

I remember our RE telling us on the day of our FET that it had about a 20-25% chance of working.  After the first two tries where I was constantly worried and stressing about everything, I decided I was through doing that this time.  What was going to happen was going to happen and there was very little I could do about it.  I prayed and I gave it to God.  Looking back on it now, I really think that my attitude helped me to stay more relaxed and I can't say for sure, but I think being more relaxed is what helped it finally work.  

I wish you the best of luck and will be praying for you!

[Jennie1211]

Hi there....I was almost 39 when I did my IVF transfer with my own eggs (like a month shy of being 39). Our RE was very straight up and said we had about a 30-35% chance of becoming pregnant and about a 25-30% chance of having a live birth--certainly not the most encouraging odds to spend all that money on. Plus, we had to do semen extraction, which just added another variable to the mix. I did a 5-day transfer using ICSI and assisted hatching and came up positive the first time using Lupron, Follistim, Estrace, and Menopur. I'm now almost 30 weeks along. I know a lot of women take additional supplements, swear by acupuncture, etc. to help assist with the success. I didn't happen to do any of that (mostly because I didn't know about it prior to going through the process.) I just really trusted my RE, I guess.

I totally understand the bleak stats that can be out there. I almost didn't attempt it at all due to the cost, etc. But, I figured the only thing I could do was to try and remain as positive as possible. Plus, I knew I would regret it if I didn't at least try once. I know it's a lot to take in....so been there! I wish you lots of luck!