IVF Over 40 With Your Own Eggs: Personalised Treatment Through AI and Research

December 4, 2025

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If you’re in your 40s and exploring IVF, you are not alone. More women around the world are choosing (or finding themselves on) the path to motherhood later in life. Whether that’s because you’ve built a career you love, found the right partner a little later than planned, waited until you felt emotionally ready, have been trying for years, or simply had life throw a surprise your way — there’s no single story that leads you here. Just millions of different ones.

What’s also true is this:

Fertility declines with age, especially after 40. IVF with your own eggs can be more complicated, more emotional, and more expensive. But it’s not unrealistic. And it’s certainly not impossible.

The biggest shift in modern IVF care is that the conversation is no longer just about age. It’s more usefully about:

Your biology
Your personal response to treatment
What your embryos are doing right now
And how data, AI, and research can support smarter decisions

In this post, we’ll explore how these advances are changing IVF for women over 40, helping you move forward with more confidence, clarity, and genuine strategy. You deserve care that feels guided and personalised — not like a guessing game.

Age Matters, but it’s Only Part of the Story

As we experienced personally, fertility can vary wildly at the same age. You and someone else might both be 41, but your IVF outcomes can look completely different depending on:

How many eggs your ovaries produce with stimulation
How your hormones behave throughout the cycle
And how your embryos actually develop once created

So while age is still relevant, it’s not predictive on its own.

The strongest predictors of IVF success after 40 are happening now — in your cycle — not your past. With better testing and tailored stimulation, doctors can create protocols based not just on your age, but on your biology, allowing for smarter, personalised IVF strategies.

How many eggs your ovaries produce with stimulation
How your hormones behave throughout the cycle
And how your embryos actually develop once created

So while age is still relevant, it’s not predictive on its own.

The Most Useful Current Evidence We Have (Based on 1,217 IVF Cycles)

A major study following 1,217 IVF cycles in women aged 40–46 gives us valuable patterns that help shape more realistic planning.

The research highlighted

Most pregnancies occurred in the first 2 IVF cycles
Success dropped sharply after cycle 3
Very few pregnancies occurred after 6+ cycles
Retrieving 5 or more eggs was one of the most meaningful turning points in outcomes
Higher medication doses did not improve success — lower doses often performed better
Transferring multiple embryos sometimes helped in women aged 40–41, leading mainly to twins, not higher multiples

What this means for you

The goal isn’t to do as many cycles as possible
It’s to make the first few cycles as biologically optimised and emotionally supported as possible

As we both experienced, IVF success in your 40s is less about endlessly repeating cycles (which we unfortunately did), and more about optimising the cycles that count most.

What Improves the Odds in Women Aged 40–42?

The study found better outcomes when women had:

More than 4 mature follicles at retrieval
A uterine lining thicker than 8.5mm
5+ eggs retrieved
Embryos formed reliably
Medication doses adjusted carefully (not aggressively increased)

Meanwhile, pregnancy was nearly 4 times more likely if 5 or more eggs were retrieved at age 40–41 compared to fewer than 5.

As we both learned through our own journeys, success isn’t just about persistence and trying cycle after cycle—it’s about precision and using the right strategies from the beginning.

Knowing when to pause and adjust isn’t failure — it’s good decision-making. And protecting your wellbeing is part of good IVF care.

Here’s a simple research-based checkpoint you can apply to yourself:

Continue with current IVF protocols if

You’re 40–42 and responding well to stimulation
You create embryos consistently
You retrieve around 5+ eggs in a cycle
Your body tolerates the process well, physically and emotionally

Pause and reassess the strategy if

2–3 cycles have passed without meaningful progress
Egg numbers are low and embryo development is struggling
The process is starting to feel more draining than directional
Or your doctor is not adapting protocols to your biology

You may have heard IVF is a numbers game, and it is, but after 40, it’s not about the number of cycles you endure. It’s about the number of cycles that are cleverly timed, biologically personalised, emotionally supported, and strategically planned.

And that’s an honest and realistic conversation you should expect to have with your doctor or fertility specialist.

Does Past Fertility Predict IVF Success?

Not as much as people think. This surprised us as well! According to the research, previous natural pregnancies or successful IVF before 40 don’t strongly predict success after 40. Likewise, common markers like basal FSH are less reliable predictors at this age.

This tells us that IVF in your 40s is driven by egg quality, not just quantity. So what matters most?

How your eggs perform now
How embryos develop right now
How your body responds in real time in each cycle

Considering a Multiple Embryo Transfer? It Can Help, But It’s Not for Everyone

If you are considering transferring multiple embryos, this has shown to increase the chance of pregnancy—particularly in women aged 40–41. In this study, success rose from 0.7% with one embryo to 21% with three.

But by age 42, the benefit seems less clear. Transferring multiples should be carefully weighed with your doctor to avoid risks, balancing benefit with safety. Note that all multiples in this study were twins—no triplets or higher.

Personalised Stimulation: Inside the HIER Approach

HIER (Highly Individualised Egg Retrieval) was developed by a major fertility centre in the US, but its principles are now influencing treatment thinking globally.

What’s different about HIER?

Earlier Triggers, Healthier Eggs

Most IVF clinics wait until follicles grow to 18–22mm before triggering ovulation. But if you are over 40, waiting that long can lead to overmature eggs that aren’t as healthy. The HIER approach triggers ovulation as early as 11–14mm, when your eggs may still be healthier.

Rescue In Vitro Maturation (rIVM)

Unlike many clinics that throw away immature eggs (GV or MI stage), the HIER approach saves them. These eggs are matured in the lab, which gives you more chances to create healthy/ viable embryos.

Personalised Plan for Every Cycle:

Your treatment is adjusted as your body responds, not based on your age alone.
Doctors adjust the medication and timing based on your hormone levels and how your follicles are growing in real time.

Wider age range

Women up to 48 have conceived using this tailored approach

It’s not about stronger medication. It’s about better timing, smarter dosing, and personalised response.

AI is now stepping in to support IVF decisions

As we’ve seen, personalisation is key—but deciding on the right approach, and when to pivot, isn’t easy. AI isn’t replacing doctors, but it is helping answer questions that used to feel subjective and unclear, such as:

Should I bank embryos and test them?
Should I do another fresh cycle?
Or explore other family-building paths sooner?

A 2025 AI decision tool from a reproductive medicine foundation introduced an AI-powered decision support tool that personalises IVF planning in women over 40. The AI system uses your age, hormone levels, partners sperm quality, and more to create two helpful scores:

The system looks at two planning scores with over 90% predictive accuracy.

1. Pre-Treatment Evaluation Score (PTES)

Helps decide if IVF is a good idea before you start – evaluates age, AMH, AFC, BMI, sperm count and motility and prior IVF attempts
If your score is high (70+), embryo banking + testing is suggested.
If your score is low (<30), you may want to consider other options.

2. Embryo Quality Score (EQRS)

Looks at how healthy your embryos are after egg retrieval – assesses number of mature eggs, embryo grade, Day-3 and Day-4 development
If your score is 25+, testing the embryos (PGT-A) might help.
If your score is under 15, chances of success are very low.

These scores help tailor planning, set expectations, and inform discussions with your doctor and clinic.

Embryo banking + PGT-A vs. repeated fresh cycles: which might fit you best?

Many times the decision comes down to: should I embryo bank and screen with PGT-A or try multiple fresh IVF cycles? Here’s how to help decide:

Fresh cycles may suit you if

You’re 40–42
You have a good ovarian reserve
Your follicles mature well
And you reliably form embryos
Note: success declines after 2–3 cycles, particularly beyond 43

Embryo banking + testing may suit you if

You retrieve fewer eggs
But embryo development quality looks better than egg quantity alone predicts
Miscarriage risk reduction is a priority
Or you want fewer, better-targeted transfers

It’s alot to consider. Embryo banking takes more time and money but may lead to better outcomes. On the other hand, doing multiple fresh cycles can be emotionally and physically draining, with lowered chances each time. This is the crossroads many face in their IVF journeys.

AI can help you and your doctor compare these options and decide what’s best for you. There’s no single right answer — only the right answer for you.

A Quick Age-Based Overview to Help You Navigate What’s Next

We have put together combined insights and recommendations based on the studies to help you better understand your options.

Age 40–42

IVF with your own eggs is still a realistic option
Personalised stimulation can make a significant difference
The first 1–2 cycles, when optimised to your biology, are often your strongest window
Embryo banking with PGT-A testing can help if your egg numbers are lower but embryo development looks promising

Age 43–45

Success rates dip, but pregnancy with your own eggs is still possible
What matters most now is embryo quality, not just egg quantity
Banking embryos and testing them for chromosomal normality is often a more strategic approach
This is also a completely valid and compassionate time to talk openly with your doctor about donor eggs and other long-term family-building paths

Age 45+

We understand how hard it can be to read this, but research—including advanced AI models—consistently shows that own-egg IVF has extremely low success. Though rare, you still have a chance depending on your biology when personalisation is part of the plan:
And even beyond IVF, your parenthood options remain open:
- Donor eggs, surrogacy, and adoption are empowering, recognised, deeply meaningful paths.
- This phase isn’t the end of your story. It’s a crossroads where the goal becomes choosing the kindest and most effective strategy for you
- Because after 40, success is less about repeating cycles, and far more about timing, biology, and making informed decisions early

This is the point where clarity is more powerful than simply continuing, and strategy outweighs repetition. IVF can be an extremely draining process both physically and emotionally. Changing course, if that becomes your best option, isn’t giving up. It’s giving yourself the best possible future outcomes while protecting your heart, your health and your resources.

Our Question Guide that You Can Take to Your Doctor

We believe that having honest, supportive conversations with your doctor is so important. Every path is different, and the right questions can help you feel more informed and confident about your next steps.

Based on or own experience, we can’t begin to say how important it is to take a personalised approach to IVF in your 40s. If your clinic and doctor are not offering this, go elsewhere.

Here are the questions that matter most, centered on your biology and long-term outcomes:

How many eggs is it realistic to retrieve in a cycle?
What does my ovarian reserve look like right now?
Do you personalise stimulation protocols based on cycle response?
Is embryo banking + PGT-A appropriate for me?
Can AI tools help support our planning discussion?
How many cycles feel constructive for someone like me?
At what point should we discuss broader family-building pathways more openly?

These questions aren’t about challenging your doctor.
They’re about inviting them into a plan with you. Because what you deserve most from your clinic is this not more cycles, but more clarity, more strategy and more partnership.

Final Thoughts

IVF after 40 is challenging—age can bring added complexity, both physically and emotionally. But you are not out of options. There’s more support, science, and strategy available now than ever before..

Global research shows us that IVF after 40 requires a more tailored, thoughtful approach. The old “one-size-fits-all” approach just isn’t enough. It’s about your biology, your goals, your timeline. AI and research-backed tools are now helping doctors personalise treatments more than ever—improving your chances and avoiding unnecessary steps.

Open, honest conversations with your doctor are essential. We also encourage you to use the question guide included in this blog to support those discussions.

Pregnancy is still possible, but your journey might look different—and that’s okay. Sometimes, the best outcomes come from reassessing your path and exploring other meaningful ways to build your family.

With the right team, the right information, and a plan designed just for you, this next chapter doesn’t have to be uncertain. It can be empowered, strategic, and filled with hope.

Research resources

The information in this blog is supported by peer-reviewed studies and scientific research. If you’d like to learn more or explore the details, feel free to check out the sources below.

1. Olivares‑Fuster, M. A., & Espinosa‑Baena, G. (2018). Natural conception and live birth after IVF in a woman aged 48 years and 10 months using her own eggs and a euploid embryo: A case report. JBRA Assisted Reproduction, 29(1), 191–194. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11867251/

2. Maghraby, H., Elmahdy, M., Gaafar, S., Abo Ali, A., Adel, N., ElKassar, Y., & Hassan, H. (2025). EFRE IVF 40: AI model for personalized PGT‑A decision in women over 40. EKB Journal Management System, 1(4), 286–297. Retrieved from https://journals.ekb.eg/article_419978_7e91c95c1a79c356bd038af6a29e40e4.pdf

3.Gleicher, N. (2023). A recently published study further advances the drive toward precision medicine in IVF. Journal of IVF‑Worldwide, 1(1–3), 1–4. doi:10.46989/001c.85177. Retrieved from https://jivfww.scholasticahq.com/article/85177

4.Fernandez, A. M., Drakopoulos, P., Rosetti, J., Uvin, V., Mackens, S., Bardhi, E., De Vos, M., Camus, M., Tournaye, H., & De Brucker, M. (2021). IVF in women aged 43 years and older: A 20‑year experience. Reproductive Biomedicine Online, 42(4), 768–773. doi:10.1016/j.rbmo.2020.12.002. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S14726483203063 6

6. Yan, J., Wu, K., Tang, R., Ding, L., & Chen, Z.‑J. (2012). Effect of maternal age on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF‑ET). Science China Life Sciences, 55(8), 694–698. doi:10.1007/s11427-012-4357-0. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11427-012-4357-0

7. Maghraby, H., Gaafar, S., Abo Ali, A., & Kadry, H. (2025). Pushing the boundaries of fertility: Insights from a case series of IVF outcomes in women 40 and older. EKB Journal Management System, 2(1), 366–373. doi:10.21608/jrme.2025.379187. Retrieved from https://journals.ekb.eg/article_425211.html

8. Fernandez, A. M., et al. (2006). Retrospective analysis of IVF outcomes in women aged 40 years and older. Reproductive Biomedicine Online, 13(4). Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1472648310608784