Older women may have other risk factors, in addition to age. Just like their younger counterparts, older women may have other risk factors for infertility including pelvic disease, endometriosis , or uterine fibroids . It takes two - sperm quality still matters. Sperm quality is another major factor which influences the likelihood that eggs will be successfully fertilized in vitro. Accordingly, poor sperm function will negatively influence the number of embryos available for transfer to the uterus.
Sperm quality is independent of the woman's age, but nevertheless very important.
The cost of treatment may be greater for older women. The cost of IVF is likely to be greater for older women because reduced success rates and higher miscarriage rates in these women inevitably require more IVF cycles. Age-related causes of infertility are not always insurmountable. An experienced reproductive endocrinologist can guide you through your pathway to parenthood. Some women who decline to proceed with IVF or have repeated unsuccessful attempts may proceed to third party parenting as another option.