Conquering Infertility: IVF Success Rates in India Now Up to 45% Per Cycle

1. Under 35 Years Old: 65%+ Success Rate: Women under 35 have the highest IVF success rates, with over 65% resulting in a live birth per cycle. This is because younger women have a much higher ovarian reserve and produce higher quality eggs with significantly fewer abnormalities. With a fertile 30-something woman, her eggs, uterus, and other reproductive organs are still at an optimal functioning level for pregnancy. This high egg quality leads to higher quality embryos and increased chances that implantation and conception will occur after the embryo transfer. Even if the first cycle is unsuccessful, women under 35 often have a good response to IVF medication with ample eggs retrieved. This allows multiple embryos to be created in one cycle, some of which can also be frozen for future Frozen Embryo Transfer cycles if needed. Given both higher success per cycle plus remaining fertility potential, under 35 is the most advantageous time to pursue IVF treatment.
2. 35-37 Years Old: 55% Success Rate: From 35-37 years old, women still have reasonably good outcomes from IVF treatment in most cases. Average success rates per cycle generally fall to around 55% live births in this age group. Egg quality is declining slightly compared to the early 30’s, but still much better than later years. Chromosome abnormalities and tubal issues also increase somewhat by the mid to late 30’s as overall fertility starts decreasing. However, this is still considered a good age group for IVF cycles. Clinics can still retrieve a decent number of eggs per cycle to create multiple embryos. Extra embryos can be frozen for future attempts if needed. The slight decline to 55% success per cycle is mostly attributed to the start of fertility aging rather than an outright issue. This is still an age bracket with positive IVF success outcomes overall in Indian clinics.
3. 38-40 Years Old: 35-45% Success Rate: From 38-40 years old, chances of IVF resulting in pregnancy start to decline more rapidly as egg quantity drops and abnormalities increase. Average success rates range from 35-45% per cycle by this point, with the spread accounting for differences in individual patients. Chromosome issues in embryos rise notably in this bracket, requiring more cycles for viable embryos or reducing implantation potential per transfer. Egg quality deterioration also accelerates in these years, resulting in fewer follicles and eggs retrieved per cycle. Sometimes few or no embryos result from a full IVF cycle. If embryos do form, abnormalities are higher and miscarriage risks increase if pregnancy does occur. More total IVF cycles total may be needed for success up to age 40 before chances drop off steeply. However, with multiple attempts 3 in 4 women can still conceive via IVF.
4. Over 40 Years Old: 15-25% Success Rate With Own Eggs: Past age 40, IVF success rates per cycle with a woman’s own eggs drop down to 15-25% on average. This period known as “advanced maternal age” for fertility represents a steep decline in remaining ovarian reserve as menopause approaches. Far fewer follicles respond to IVF drugs making egg retrieval difficult each round. The limited eggs obtained are lower in quality with a high rate of defects. Fewer embryos develop and chromosome issues are prevalent in remaining ones. This causes low implantation rates, higher miscarriage risk and overall much lower IVF success chances per transfer. By early to mid-40’s, 5% or lower live birth rates per cycle are common with a woman’s own eggs. Most in this bracket rely on donor eggs from younger women instead to achieve success with IVF. 

The sharp decline after age 40 is due to poorer egg quality and chromosome issues making embryo implantation difficult. Using an egg donor can increase chances for older women. Talk to your doctor about optimal treatment plans for your age.