Donor eggs drive most IVF successes for women over the age of 43, a major UK study reveals.
Analysis of more than half a million patients in the UK highlights the crucial role of donor eggs for older mums.
It shows how there has been ‘little improvement’ in success rates for older women using their own eggs for IVF in nearly 30 years, the researchers said.
And it comes at a time when many women are choosing to delay motherhood due to career opportunities, the cost of living or prioritising more personal fulfilment before starting a family.
Researchers from the London School of Economics and Political Science and the University of Vienna analysed data on assisted reproductive technologies between 1991 and 2018.
They found the number of people beginning fertility treatments each year increased from around 6,000 in 1991 to nearly 25,000 by 2018.
Over the same period overall success rates nearly doubled, rising from 14.7 per cent to 28.3 per cent.
However, both maternal age and egg source consistently remained key factors in determining success rates.
There has been ‘little improvement’ in IVF success rates for women over the age of 43 using their own eggs, the study revealed (stock image)
Among those aged 43 and above, success rates remain below 5 per cent when using their own eggs.
But more than a third of treatments using donor eggs are now successful across all age groups, the study, published in the journal Population Studies, found.
‘For women over 43, treatments using their own eggs are rarely successful,’ study author Luzia Bruckamp said.
‘Donor eggs often remain the only reliable option for achieving a successful pregnancy at older ages.’
The researchers warned that many people may not be fully aware of the implications of postponing motherhood.
‘While assisted reproduction can help many to achieve their desired family size, it cannot completely counteract the effects of maternal age,’ co author Dr Ester Lazzari added.
‘These findings carry an important message not just for the UK, but for societies worldwide, where delayed childbearing is becoming more common.’
The team are calling for clearer public health communication about the realistic success rates of IVF at different ages – and the likelihood that older women may need to use donor eggs or consider freezing their own eggs earlier in life.
The team are calling for clearer public health communication about the realistic success rates of IVF at different ages (file image)
According to a recent report by the UK’s Human Fertilisation and Embryo Authority, births using a donated egg or embryo have increased more than fourfold from 320 in 1995 to around 1,300 in 2019.
As maternal age at first birth continues to increase, the demand for donor eggs is likely to continue growing – making it important to understand the contribution of these treatments to overall fertility trends, the authors said.
Previous studies have indicated that there is a decline in female fertility starting in the early 30s, with a more significant drop after the age of 35 and a dramatic decrease after 40.
This is due to a decrease in both the quantity and quality of eggs that a woman has left. Women are most fertile in their teens and early 20s.
