The first question on almost everyone’s mind before IVF is: “What are my chances at my age?” This article explains, in plain language, why age affects success so strongly, what to realistically expect, and what options you have if you are older.

Why is age so decisive?

A woman’s age is the single biggest factor in IVF success. The reason lies in the eggs: a woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have. Over the years, both the number of eggs (ovarian reserve) and their quality decline. Lower-quality eggs carry more chromosomal errors, which reduces fertilization, healthy embryo development and implantation, and raises the risk of miscarriage. A man’s age affects sperm quality somewhat, but far less sharply than a woman’s age.

A realistic picture by age

In general, women under 35 have the highest pregnancy chance per transfer, which declines gradually with age and drops more noticeably after 40. These are average trends — your own situation depends on your ovarian reserve, general health and the cause of infertility.

At our clinic, across all age groups combined, our pregnancy rate is 63% per embryo transfer, with a 47% ongoing pregnancy rate. Prof. Dr. Murat Arslan will give you a realistic, personalized estimate after reviewing your tests. You can find the full details on our IVF treatment in Istanbul page.

What affects success besides age

• Ovarian reserve (AMH, antral follicle count)
• The cause of infertility (tubal, male factor, endometriosis, etc.)
• Uterine and embryo quality
• Laboratory and embryology experience
• Lifestyle: smoking, weight, sleep and stress

Some of these cannot be changed, but many can be improved — and that genuinely affects your chances.

What can you do if you are older?

Age alone is not an “end”; the right approach changes a great deal:

• Don’t lose time. At an advanced age every month matters; early assessment is the most valuable step.
• A personalized protocol. Stimulation is planned differently for patients with low reserve.
• Genetic testing (PGT) option. In suitable cases it can help select a healthy embryo.
• Fertility preservation. If you are not ready yet, egg freezing protects your future chances.

In short

Age is the strongest factor in IVF, but not the only one. An honest assessment and the right plan are the way to reach the highest realistic chance at any age. For your questions, message Prof. Dr. Murat Arslan’s team on WhatsApp.

Chat with us on WhatsApp — +90 532 498 63 20