Why do some women get pregnant easily and others struggle, even when using in vitro fertilization(IVF) to overcome infertility?

We know that as women age, it becomes more difficult for them to get pregnant with a healthy baby. Infertility treatments today are quite successful, but age-related female infertility is still one of the most difficult to treat.

That being said, there is good news. It is clear from analysis of data gleaned from thousands of IVF cycles, that age alone is not the best predictor of your personal probability of IVF success.

Aside from age, there are a number of other patient-specific fertility factors that are very powerful for predicting your chance of success with IVF. They can be analyzed statistically to create a customized probability of IVF success specific to you.

Chronological age does not necessarily reflect the age of the ovaries. Your ovaries are aging at their own pace, either slower or faster than those of other women at your age. Population studies have clearly shown that egg supply declines with age, but it is still difficult to know: 1) If there is a magic age when sharp decline kicks in at the level of the individual, and 2) The exact pace or rate of decline for each woman.

In reality, age may only contribute 40 to 60% of the overall probability of whether or not you'll have a baby with IVF. However, age is too often used as the sole basis for information on the Internet about IVF success rates or as the primary factor for recommending infertility treatments.

Univfy researchers recognize that many factors affect a woman’s fertility, and age is only one of them. Our predictions measure multiple factors specific to you, including ovarian reserve, body mass index, reproductive history, among others, to determine more accurately your probability of conceiving a baby with IVF.

Learn more about the Univfy® PreIVF™ Report, the Univfy-Powered IVF Refund Program and IVF providers in your area who are working with Univfy to make IVF more accessible and affordable to fertility patients. We're here to help you make confident decisions about your fertility.

The contents of this blog are for informational purposes only. Content in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Reliance on any information provided by Univfy, Univfy employees, or others appearing in this blog or on the Univfy website is solely at your own risk.

About the Author

Mylene Yao, M.D. | Co-Founder and CEO of Univfy

Dr. Mylene Yao is a board-certified OB/GYN with more than 20 years of experience in clinical and reproductive medicine research. Prior to founding Univfy, she was on the faculty at Stanford University, where she led NIH-funded fertility and embryo genetics research and developed The Univfy Platform with the academic founding team. See her full bio here.