Get the app Get the app Get the app

Does age affect IVF success rates?

A man’s age has a minor effect on IVF success. A woman’s age matters far more: older eggs carry more chromosomal errors, lowering the chances.

4 February 20251 min read

Male Age: While age-related chromosomal abnormalities in sperm increase slightly, male age has a relatively minor impact on IVF success rates.
Female Age: In contrast, female age has a significant effect on IVF outcomes. As women age, their egg quality declines, leading to a higher risk of chromosomal abnormalities (aneuploidy) in embryos.

Even if sperm fertilization remains unaffected, aneuploid embryos are less likely to develop properly, reducing the chances of:

Successful in vitro development
Implantation after transfer
A healthy ongoing pregnancy

This is why maternal age is one of the strongest predictors of IVF success.

General information, not a diagnosis: talk to your doctor about your own situation.

Share this article

Written by

Prof. Arash Rafii
Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Genetic Medicine
Sidra Hospital
Prof. Michaël Grynberg
Professor of Reproductive Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Antoine Béclère and Jean Verdier University Hospitals

How does a woman’s age affect fertility?
Fertility peaks between 20 and 30, then declines, faster after 35–37, as eggs drop in number and quality. AMH and follicle counts estimate the reserve.
4 Feb 20251 min read
What is intrauterine insemination (IUI)?
IUI places lab-prepared sperm directly in the uterus around ovulation. Who it suits, what tests come first, how it’s done, and its 10–20% success rate.
4 Feb 20253 min read
Can the amount of hormones administered affect egg quality?
No, the intensity of ovarian stimulation and the number of eggs retrieved do not increase the risk of genetic abnormalities in embryos created through IVF.
4 Feb 20251 min read

Lena is on your phone in a minute.

Free to start. Ask Lena anything, or talk to a real doctor in the same app.