March 22nd, Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz (51) and musician Benji Madden (46) announced that they had welcomed baby boy Cardinal to their family. As they want to protect their child’s privacy, there are no photos and only little details. But it is well known that Cardinals sister Raddix who was born 4 years prior, was brought into the world by a surrogate after Diaz and Madden had tired IVF, Acupuncture, supplements and so on.

In April 2023 Hilary Swank welcomed her twins Aya and Ohm at the age of 48. Swank has joined the growing list of famous women who have had children later in life. Halle Berry was 47 when she gave birth to her second child. Janet Jackson was 50 when she had her son. There have been lots of discussions about women giving birth in their older years. Starting from social aspects, proceeding with health aspects and so on.

Being a “middle aged” father (welcoming first child at 37 years and second child at 43 years, having a wife who is 4 years younger) I can tell that my patience and endurance to sleepless nights, as well as my physical overall performance would have been better in my early 20ies. On the other hand, at age 37 I had financial stability, a comfortable home, a career, I had travelled and didn’t miss nights out in the club.

Age nowadays isn’t linked anymore to numbers. I know 40, 50 and 60 years old who are fitter than a lot of 20 or 30 years old. And each era comes with its own challenges and benefits. So, lumping everyone together is not the way. While I do not presume to evaluate the aspects mentioned above, I’d rather give you some insights on the medical aspects of fertility treatments according to different age.

There is a bunch of different reproductive treatments like hormonal stimulation with clomiphene/ Letrozole, Insemination (IUI), as well as complementary medicine using supplements, acupuncture and so on. But the success rates for women over 40 with the “less invasive IUI or hormonal stimulation” are low:

Live birth rate with partner sperm and IUI:

Reported LBR/IUI cycle for over 40 ranged from 0 to 8.5% with majority being ≤ 4%

For most women over 40, IVF is the treatment providing the best results. A woman’s age is the main factor affecting the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Check out the National USA IVF success rates live births in 2021 according to age:

 

Age                                                                                        Live births per Embryo transferred

Under age 35                                                                             49.1%

Ages 35-37                                                                                  44.8%

Ages 38-40                                                                                  40.2%

Over Age 40                                                                                24.4%

 

IVF success rates using donor eggs are for fresh embryo transfer 53.3%

Most US IVF clinics have an upper age limit for allowing IVF treatment using “own eggs “of 42-45 years of age. Donor eggs are commonly used until about age 49.

Not only is older age connected with lower fertility rates, but it also rises the chances to suffer from preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, premature birth or low birth weight, miscarriage, down syndrome or other genetic disorders, caesarean section (c-section) and stillbirth.

I am often asked by friends what I would suggest to couples struggling with fertilization issues and here’s my answer: I’d suggest seeing a fertility expert as soon as possible. Most wait too long.

Fertility issues have so many possibilities nowadays that seeing someone experienced will save you time, money and speed up the way to holding your little gem in your arms.

 

– Dr Dziura