For women above 40, the number of IVF cycles needed can vary widely because age brings natural changes to egg quality, ovarian reserve, and hormonal response. With the expertise of Dr Bhavana Mittal and the advanced facilities at Shivam IVF, known for offering the Best IVF Treatment in Delhi, these age-related challenges can be better evaluated and managed. Here is a detailed, point-wise explanation:
General Expectation
Women above 40 often require 2 to 4 IVF cycles to achieve a successful pregnancy.
Success is still possible in fewer cycles, but the probability increases with repeated attempts.
Why Multiple Cycles Are Common
Egg quality decreases with age, reducing fertilization and implantation chances.
More cycles help gather more eggs or embryos, increasing the cumulative success rate.
Ovarian Reserve
Low AMH or high FSH levels may lead to fewer eggs per cycle.
Multiple cycles may be recommended to collect more embryos.
Egg Quality
Women above 40 often produce a smaller percentage of genetically normal embryos.
Additional cycles increase the chances of finding a healthy embryo.
Response to Stimulation
Some women respond weakly to standard IVF medications.
Repeated cycles allow doctors to adjust protocols for better outcomes.
Underlying Medical Conditions
Conditions like fibroids, endometriosis, or thyroid disorders can impact success.
These may require more cycles or supportive treatments.
Realistic Expectations
IVF success rates decrease after age 40, especially when using one's own eggs.
Each cycle may yield a success rate of 10–20%, depending on individual health.
Cumulative Success
Success increases with multiple attempts:
After 2–3 cycles, cumulative success can significantly improve.
Clinics often recommend 2 cycles before considering alternatives.
Personalized Stimulation Protocols
Tailored protocols improve egg yield and embryo quality.
This is a key strength at centers like Shivam IVF, guided by Dr Bhavana Mittal.
Blastocyst Transfer
Transferring embryos on Day 5 helps select the strongest ones.
PGT/PGS Testing
Genetic testing ensures only healthy embryos are transferred.
Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)
FET cycles may offer better success for women over 40 due to controlled endometrial preparation.
For Very Low Egg Quality
If repeated cycles show poor embryo development, donor eggs can drastically increase success.
Higher Success Potential
Donor-egg IVF typically yields success rates of 60–70%, even for women over 40.
Expert Guidance
Specialists like Dr Bhavana Mittal at Shivam IVF offer thorough counseling to help couples choose the right path.
Patient-Specific Planning
At Shivam IVF, Dr Bhavana Mittal recommends:
Analyzing hormonal profiles
Tailoring IVF protocols
Monitoring closely to optimize egg quality
Realistic but Hopeful Approach
She provides clear expectations for women above 40.
Her experience with complex cases helps reduce the number of unnecessary cycles.
Advanced Techniques
The clinic uses:
High-quality IVF labs
Embryo monitoring
Precision-based stimulation to improve success in older women.
Women above 40 may need 2–4 IVF cycles for the best chances of achieving pregnancy, as success at this age depends heavily on factors like egg quality, ovarian reserve, personalized treatment protocols, and the expertise of the medical team. With advanced treatment strategies available at Shivam IVF and the skilled guidance of Dr Bhavana Mittal, who is known for offering some of the Best IVF Treatment in Delhi, older women can significantly improve their chances of conception while reducing the likelihood of repeated failed cycles.