IVF after 40: Should I Use My Own Eggs or Donor Eggs?

In recent years, advancements in reproductive technologies have given hope to many individuals and couples struggling with infertility. In vitro fertilization (IVF) in particular has enabled more people to become parents and grow their families. Some estimate that there have been over eight million babies born via IVF (including my own!). And 1 in 8 IVF cycles are estimated to involve eggs retrieved from a donor. 

For women who are in their 40s and considering IVF, a common question arises: should I use my own eggs or donor eggs? In this article, we’ll review valuable insights and information to help you make an informed decision on your IVF journey.

How successful is IVF with your own eggs at 40?

Unfortunately, as we age our fertility naturally declines, and this decline becomes more significant after the age of 35. By the age of 40, a woman's ovarian reserve (the number and quality of eggs she has) is often diminished. Consequently, the success rates of IVF using a woman's own eggs decrease with age.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) ​​Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) data, the live birth rate per IVF cycle for women over 40, using their own eggs, is 7.6%. This means that out of every 100 IVF cycles, only 7-8 result in a live birth. 

While age plays a huge role in your chances of success, there are other factors that influence IVF outcomes including overall health, previous pregnancies, sperm health, the quality of the clinic, and the quality of the embryos. It is important to have realistic expectations when considering IVF with one's own eggs at the age of 40. A fertility doctor should be able to give you an idea of your chances of success with a proper fertility evaluation. 

Should I try IVF with my own eggs or go straight to donor eggs?

Deciding whether to try IVF with your own eggs or proceed directly to donor eggs is a deeply personal and complex choice. Several factors should be taken into consideration, including your age, ovarian reserve, overall health, previous fertility history, and emotional readiness.

For those in their early 40s with a good ovarian reserve and no underlying fertility issues, attempting IVF with your own eggs may be a reasonable option. A fertility doctor can evaluate your specific circumstances and provide guidance based on their expertise.

On the other hand, some people want the fastest and most likely path to a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. Especially if your journey has already been long, hard, and expensive, the decision to use donor eggs may bring renewed hope. 

If your ovarian reserve is significantly diminished, or if previous attempts at IVF have been unsuccessful, using donor eggs may offer a higher chance of success. Donor eggs come from egg donors who have passed rigorous screening including ovarian reserve, reproductive health, general health, and genetics. This can increase the chances of achieving a successful pregnancy and live birth.

What is the success rate of IVF with donor eggs?

Donor egg IVF has the highest success rate of any fertility treatment. This means that donor eggs can drastically increase your chances of success! Around 53 percent of all donor egg cycles will result in at least one live birth. This percentage varies depending on the egg donor, recipient body mass index, stage of embryo at transfer, the number of oocytes retrieved, and the quality of the clinic.

At every age, the chances of birth with donor eggs is better, but those who benefit the most from donor eggs are women over 35 and those with low ovarian reserve. In fact, about one-quarter of women over 40 who succeeded with IVF did so through the use of donor eggs. 

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The chart was made using the SART Patient Predictor for an average woman (5’4”, 150 lbs) with diminished ovarian reserve. As you can see, the chances of live birth after one donor egg cycle is 54% for recipients under 40, and only goes down slightly after this.

What is the risk of miscarriage with donor eggs?

The short answer is that using donor eggs decreases the risk of miscarriage for most women. Especially for those who experienced previous miscarriages due to chromosomal abnormalities. Because egg donors are young (under 33) and medically cleared, outcomes with donor eggs are better than outcomes with a patient’s own eggs. 

Age is a significant factor in miscarriage risk. As women age, the quality of their eggs decreases, and the risk of chromosomal abnormalities increases, which can lead to miscarriage. By using younger, healthier eggs from a donor, the risk of chromosomal abnormalities is significantly reduced.

Furthermore, the donor egg IVF process involves extensive screening of the donor to ensure that she is in good health and has a low risk of genetic disorders. This can further reduce the risk of miscarriage, as genetic disorders can be a significant contributor to pregnancy loss.

Pros and cons of using donor eggs vs. your own eggs

Let’s go over some of the advantages and disadvantages of using donor eggs for IVF.

The pros of using donor eggs include:

• Better egg quality: Eggs from donors tend to have better genetic quality, potentially reducing the risk of chromosomal abnormalities and genetic disorders.
• More embryos: A medically cleared egg donor is likely to lead to more embryos, often giving families more options, including gender selection. 
• Increased success rates: Donor eggs come from young (under 33), healthy donors, which can improve the chances of successful fertilization, implantation, and pregnancy – getting a baby in your arms sooner.

The challenges of using donor eggs include:

• Emotional considerations: Using donor eggs may bring up complex emotional issues, such as feelings of loss, grief, or concerns about genetic connections. It is important to seek counseling or support to address these emotions.
• Financial costs: Using donor eggs adds an additional expense to the IVF process. 

Find an amazing egg donor at Cofertility

At Cofertility, our program is unique. After meeting with hundreds of intended parents, egg donors, and donor-conceived people, we decided on an egg donation model that we think best serves everyone involved: egg sharing. We didn’t invent the concept of egg sharing, but we are the first to take it national (and even global!). 

Here’s how it works: our unique model empowers women to take control of their own reproductive health while giving you the gift of a lifetime. Our donors aren’t doing it for cash – they keep half the eggs retrieved for their own future use, and donate half to your family.

We aim to be the best egg sharing program, providing an experience that honors, respects, and uplifts everyone involved. Here’s what sets us apart:

• Baby guarantee. We truly want to help you bring your baby home, and we will re-match you for free until that happens.
• Donor empowerment. Our model empowers donors to preserve their own fertility, while lifting you up on your own journey. It’s a win-win.
• Diversity: We’re proud about the fact that the donors on our platform are as diverse as the intended parents seeking to match with them. We work with intended parents to understand their own cultural values — including regional nuances — in hopes of finding them the perfect match.
• Human-centered. We didn’t like the status quo in egg donation. So we’re doing things differently, starting with our human-centered matching platform.
• Lifetime support: Historically, other egg donation options have treated egg donor matching as a one-and-done experience. Beyond matching, beyond a pregnancy, beyond a birth…we believe in supporting the donor-conceived family for life. Our resources and education provide intended parents with the guidance they need to raise happy, healthy kids and celebrate their origin stories.

For those who match with a donor in our fresh egg donation program, the average number of mature eggs a family receives and fertilizes is 12. The number of eggs retrieved varies by patient and cycle, but can be predicted by a donor’s age, AMH, and antral follicle count, all of which will be known to you after the donor’s initial screening. Qualified candidates have an ample ovarian reserve for both their own needs and sharing. Egg share donors also often work closely with a fertility doctor to determine, based on their own medical history, the optimal number of eggs needed for their own future family-building goals. Should it make sense for the donor, they may choose to pursue a second egg-sharing cycle to maximize the chances of success for everyone.

Matching with a donor in our frozen program can provide the opportunity to move forward with your family-building plans faster, as frozen eggs can be fertilized or shipped to your clinic immediately or as soon as the cycle is complete. Donors undergoing frozen cycles complete equally rigorous ovarian reserve testing. While the total number of frozen eggs available will vary based on the donor’s retrieval outcomes, every frozen match is guaranteed to have a minimum of at least 6 frozen eggs.

To learn more about these programs and the differences between them, click here.

We are obsessed with improving the family-building journey — today or in the future — and are in an endless pursuit to make these experiences more positive. Create a free account to get started today!

How much do donor eggs cost?

The cost of egg sharing can vary based on whether you opt for a fresh or frozen donation cycle as well as other factors like the fertility clinic or donor's location. Unlike traditional egg donation, donors in egg sharing programs do not receive cash compensation, which can reduce your overall expenses.

For a more detailed breakdown of Cofertility's pricing, including estimates, you can visit our pricing page. All of our pricing also includes our Baby Guarantee, our promise that if for any reason outside your control your initial match does not lead to a live birth, we’ll re-match you for free until that happens.

Summing it up

While IVF with one's own eggs can still offer a chance of success after 40, the use of donor eggs can significantly increase the chances of achieving a successful pregnancy and live birth.

Deciding between using your own eggs or donor eggs for IVF is a deeply personal choice that may be weighing on you. If you are hesitating to use donor eggs, we highly recommend connecting with a parent or support group of others who have walked down this path. We have never met a parent through egg donation who has regretted their decision. A fertility psychologist who has experience in this area can also provide guidance.

Ultimately, the goal is to make an informed choice that aligns with your desires, values, and the best chances of achieving a healthy pregnancy and fulfilling parenthood. Wherever you land, we wish you all the best.

Read more:

• Does Using Donor Eggs Decrease the Risk for Miscarriage?
• I'm a Fertility Psychologist. Here's What I Want You to Know About Growing Your Family Through Egg Donation
• 35 Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Using Donor Eggs
• 10 Facts You Need To Know About Using Donor Eggs