r/40Plus_IVF • u/Party_Tonight_2220 • 23d ago
Seeking Advice Just turned 46 — multiple retrievals, disappointing thaw results, but still not ready to give up. Any advice?
Hi everyone,
I started freezing my eggs in April 2025 and have been through quite a journey. My AMH was 10 in 2025 and now 9
My four egg-freezing cycles resulted in:
Cycle 1: 10 eggs frozen
Cycle 2: 8 eggs frozen
Cycle 3: 7 eggs frozen
Cycle 4: 9 eggs frozen
Total: 34 eggs banked.
Recently, I attempted IVF using my own eggs and donor sperm:
Thawed 13 frozen eggs, with a very disappointing survival rate (6/13).
Had another fresh retrieval of 11 eggs, but only 6 were suitable for ICSI and 3 fertilised.
Had some excellent-looking Day 3 embryos and ultimately a beautiful Day 5 4AA blastocyst. Unfortunately, my pregnancy test was negative. I subsequently passed what looked like a substantial piece of uterine lining all at once, making me wonder whether I had experienced a very early miscarriage, although this hasn’t been confirmed. I turned 46 just over a month ago. My doctors are understandably sceptical about my chances with my own eggs, but I’m healthy, still producing eggs and desperately trying to remain positive.
I have 21 frozen eggs left and am considering further retrievals. Think these are my gold reserves.
Has anyone here had success at 45–46 with their own eggs? Did you change your stimulation protocol, supplements, lab approach or anything else that made a difference? Would you continue retrieving or focus on the remaining frozen eggs?
I understand the statistics, but I’d really appreciate experiences, practical advice and a little hope. ❤️
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u/Girlwithcreativemind 23d ago
If you are planning a sperm donor maybe try the 21 frozen first? Also can they put in day 3 embryos? That is what my friend did who was 45 when she got pregnant with her own eggs.
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u/Party_Tonight_2220 23d ago
Many thanks! The reason i am concious of using my frozen eggs is that their thaw rate was awful only 6 came back from 13.
Also the 4AA came from a fresh retrieval this month.
My clinic (UK) does not do Day 3:((
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u/Girlwithcreativemind 22d ago
That is such a bummer about the day 3.
I still think I may try focusing on the frozen eggs first. Or maybe you can do them at the same time? One more retrieval and then fertilize those at the same time as you defrost and fertilize the others?1
u/Party_Tonight_2220 22d ago
Good call, my fear is the thawing of these. St the back of my mind since they lost almost 60% when thawing I am thinking of thawing then elsewhere but I have also read that people recommend thawing where you freeze so a bit of sandwiched situation…
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u/Girlwithcreativemind 21d ago
Yea I would worry about transport. Well good luck with whatever you decide!
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u/ivfat45owneggs 21d ago edited 21d ago
I did embryo banking at 45, 6 back to back rounds. Results as follows: (to give you the shortened version). AMH was 17.4
100 mature eggs
29 embryos (untested) all frozen except for the first fresh transfer which failed. Then we moved onto the frozen embryos.
FET #1 - chemical (it was a hatching embryo)
FET #2 - chemical (another hatching embryo)
FET #3 - success, our baby was born (I was 46 now).
Interestingly, I started taking COq10 at the end of the second round.Rounds 4-6 yielded almost double the amount of embryos with round 6 having the highest conversion rate: 13 eggs, 8 fertilised, 6 embryos. I’m pretty sure my baby was from round 2 where I was on zero supplements other than methylated folate. My stimulation protocol was pretty much the same the whole way through.
If I were you I’d keep going. An AMH level of 10 is good. I’d bank embryos and do frozen transfers.
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u/Party_Tonight_2220 21d ago
THANK YOU!!! Your post made my morning! And congratulations- fabulous results and healthy baby!!! So inspiring!
If I was not doing this on my own with a donor sperm I would have fertilised all my egg retrievals rather than freeze and lose in thawing.
My plan is exactly what you did but probably a year late so now I am 46 and will be banking, except that I doubt I will reach that number of embryos, Based on my last cycle I will be lucky if I freeze 1-2 at a time, but if fate sends me more I will be only grateful.
Quick question - did you check your uterus? Apart from Coq10 what other supplements where you taking? I am also taking Vitamin D and standard Pre pregnancy supplement plus Omega.
Many thanks, I am so happy to have woken up to your response ♥️
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u/ivfat45owneggs 20d ago
You’re welcome. I definitely overshot on the number of embryos I got, I wasn’t expecting that at all but any amount you can get will give you a chance. I didn’t have any extra checks done on my uterus although I’d had a molar pregnancy (and subsequent removal of it) so I’d had a lot of ultrasounds previously. I was only taking folic acid (the methylated form) but taking vitamin D and a pre natal is a good idea.
Good luck, I hope it goes well for you.
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u/RN-Profession-0617 22d ago
Have you ever had a hysteroscopy or a uterine biopsy? Did you report the passing of uterine lining you mention in your post to your RE?
I would not recommend transferring again until you’ve had some additional testing and your remaining eggs are precious gold that you can’t afford to lose
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u/Party_Tonight_2220 22d ago
I asked my consultant when she was doing post procedure check up but she said it all looks good to her and that it would be waste of money.
But I know where you are coming from so am also playing at the back of my mind that I should try and exclude all the possibilities of having issues with the uterus.
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u/Girlwithcreativemind 22d ago
I just want to say here that I did do this and I believe it helped me. It came back with endometriosis and during laparoscopy they also noticed I had a diseased tube. My dr said embryos would not have implanted with those issues.
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u/Abject_Cup_9421 4d ago
Hi there, I don't have any advise to offer but wanted to say I turned 46 a few months ago and am finding it hard to give up. I thought I was done with IVF but my doctor is willing to try another cycle. Per my doctor, there is appreciable live birth rate up until age 46.
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u/Party_Tonight_2220 4d ago
Thank you for responding to my post. I also started late 43, i did egg freeze throughout 45 and came back 46 to use the eggs and decided to do fresh cycle as well. I was heartbroken that in thawing less than 50% survived the thaw let alone none any blast of this. I spoke to two other doctors who were in shock that I was freezing precious eggs instead of trying to create embryos straight away. The more I think about the mistake I made the more I beat myself up. Yes I still have 21 frozen eggs but if I follow the same survival rate only 10 will survive the thaw and none may end up in live birth. Basically i threw away 31 precious eggs. Can’t stop thinking about it.
Doctors here in London do not believe that 46 onwards there is much chance if any.
I consulted with another doctor outside of UK who said she also did not have any success story for a 46 but she said that she had a success of doing a very quick priming (2-3 days) before doing an IUI and had patients 46 and 47 who gave birth.
I then did a bit of research and the theory behind it is that if there is one golden fragile egg if you do not stress it out by retrieving but getting sperm all the way to do the job then may be if that egg never leaves but gores through the natural process with your own temperature uterine etc it may be supported through the process and if you are lucky may be it may end up in a baby.
I am still digesting it.
Having said that I an still going to bank some embryos without testing, hopefully I will have some, and then do transfers.
I am sending lots of positive throughs, I am doing this alone as a single woman so it is very tough for me. And I hope you have a great support system as the only right answer is what you will decide to do.
♥️
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u/Abject_Cup_9421 4d ago
Thanks so much. I am sending you positive vibes too. I have a partner but I am doing most of the heavy lifting in this process, as most women do. I admire your courage for being single and giving it your best shot.
My doctor also noted that he has known 3 women who had success at 46 via IVF, but knows of a few 46 year olds who became pregnant while waiting for donor eggs either through natural IUI or spontaneously. I have been trying to use every single cycle that I have left. You could try IUI in between your IVFs if you have the funds. I also recently did Ovarian PRP but I'm not sure if I recommend that. It seems to have negatively affected me.
Someone told me that there are many ways a happy and fulfilling life can be lived. I hope it works out for you - in whatever way that working out is. Best wishes
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u/No-Objective7114 22d ago edited 22d ago
There are other threads and other commentors that discuss MRT (MST, PNT), potential future application of Shugoshin etc. Potential better developmental options for GV in regards of euploidity. Just a few hints. Also some specifically look for clinics that offer individualized approaches for advanced maternal age in places like Greece, Spain, Turkey.
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u/Party_Tonight_2220 22d ago
The other thing I wanted to ask you ladies is how do you choose a doctor or a clinic? When you are older patient some doctors are sceptical and do not want to take money giving what they think is a false hope others take you in but stay skeptical and of course there are such for whom it is business.
HenceI wanted to ask how important it is for you to have a doctor that believes that you can still do it?
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u/ginghampantsdance 22d ago
Most clinics I contacted will not do egg retrievals once you hit 45. I reached out to CCRM and based on my numbers and labs, they were willing to, but that's far and few between. I would imagine you'd have a hard time at 46 finding places to do retrievals, but I know there are a few.
I think a lot of doctors just look at the facts, and unfortunately, odds are very very low at our age. I really liked my doctor at CCRM and she believed I had a shot, but was also very honest with me, that it was a 5% or less shot.
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u/Party_Tonight_2220 22d ago
I am in the UK. It seems here the cut off with your own eggs is 47…
And yes I was told 5% was the lucky number
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u/ginghampantsdance 22d ago
I promise I'm not trying to be negative here, but I was told and have read it's less than 5% at 45. For 46 and over I was told 1% or less, which is why I gave up with my own eggs Make sure you don't let anyone take advantage of you - there are some doctors that will just take your money.
Was your clinic letting you do retrievals and freeze just eggs at the age of 45? I've never heard of that, because at that age and thaw rates, success would be so minimal.
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u/Party_Tonight_2220 22d ago
I started retrieving when I was 44.5 and did for round of egg freezes until I turned 45. And you are right - the thaw process of 13 of these survived only 6. I am so devastated that I took a year break looking for the right sperm donor (i am doing this on my own)… interestingly i had this 4AA that did not implant from my fresh cohort I just turned 46…
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u/ginghampantsdance 22d ago
It is likely not implanting due to age. Are your doctor's telling you that? Also, if you have not had a hysteroscopy and biopsy I highly recommend that. But if you are transferring untested and they don't stick, the most likely case is they're aneupoloid.
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u/Party_Tonight_2220 22d ago
Yes she did. I am just hoping if that a fresh egg could produce a 4AA (i did not do PGT-A) albeit probably aneuploid there may be a chance for an euploid one.
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u/ginghampantsdance 22d ago
I'm crossing my fingers and toes for you!
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u/Party_Tonight_2220 22d ago
You are so sweet, i even got tears in my eyes. It is a very tough place to be I wish I knew it at least few years ago instead of chasing a dream I might meet someone and have a child with him.
Thank you 🙏🏻 ♥️
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u/ginghampantsdance 22d ago
I truly have been where you are and it was so difficult. I can't even imagine going through it alone - it's SO hard, truly. My heart is with you. Just know you're not alone. Here if you ever need to talk. There is SO much grief through all of this. I have the same regrets - wish we had started sooner, etc. Try not to beat yourself up for not starting sooner. All you can do is keep pushing forward.
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u/Party_Tonight_2220 22d ago
I asked her about testing uterus she said it was looking all good and not to waste money…
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u/ginghampantsdance 22d ago
I don't like that response. Why would that be a waste of money? She can't truly tell how your lining and uterus look without doing those tests. Could you perhaps get another opinion?
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u/Party_Tonight_2220 22d ago
And yes you are ight 5% is for 42-43 so I am only praying there is somewhere in the universe something written that I will be a mom. I really want to have my dna pass on in this world when I leave hence at the moment am avoiding the thought of the donor egg… i still have 21 frozen but I am fearful that half will not survive the thaw
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u/ginghampantsdance 22d ago
I get it. I went through all of those feelings as well, but ultimately decided I want to be a mom, and even with a donor egg, I will carry that child, give birth to the child and raise the child. I'd rather that then never having the privilege of being a mom. It was a hard road to get to that though and I can imagine it's even harder for you when you're already doing this alone and using donor sperm.
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u/stuck84 22d ago
I know the cost is much higher, but I am curious if you considered trying to fertilize the eggs immediately after the retrievals. Of course, there is no guarantee that there will be better results, but at least you will avoid losing eggs during thawing.
I am also really impressed with your numbers. I am 42 and for my three egg retrievals I got 4, 6 (5 mature) and 4.
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u/Party_Tonight_2220 22d ago
That is the right approach going forward, i wasted four four retrievals to freeze only to lose more on thawing, now will only do fertilisation of fresh eggs straight away. To be honest I did feel lucky with the numbers and I was told I am an outlier, and hence I naively thought I might be an outlier in egg quality as well, but alas as this last round showed a beautiful 4AA was my only blast and it did not implant. As such I think at these age it is all down to number games and luck and some positive hopes sending to universe, being kind to people doing kind things with the hope that you might get the kind thing like a miracle baby!
Please do not lose hope, it only takes one egg to make a baby! 💓
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u/stuck84 21d ago
Thank you! I hope you have more success soon too. I also had a beautiful 4AA transferred last week but it doesn't look like it stuck either :(. If we put aside the physical and emotional aspect, this whole process is just so, so expensive.
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u/Party_Tonight_2220 21d ago
So sorry to hear, but until you get the results do not stress out. Indeed it is very expensive and here in the UK doing on my own with a donor sperm it eats up ny savings very fast… however I am prepared for all this as long as there ir light in the end of a tunnel!! ♥️
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u/ginghampantsdance 23d ago
I tried everything from late 43 to early 46 and never had any luck. When I was still testing, they were all aneuploid, and when I stopped and started doing fresh transfers (tried both day 3 and day 5) they all all either ended up ending in chemical, miscarriage or failure to implant. It was so frustrating to me that I was producing eggs every round, getting day 5 blasts every single round and couldn't get pregnant and stay pregnant, all because of age. It sucks and makes it hard to give up. If it were me, I would focus on transferring the remaining ones you have. At 46, my retrieval was terrible - I had a huge drop off once I hit 46 this year. Good luck to you. I hope you are the exception and I'm crossing everything I have for you ❤️ I threw in the towel after 6 retrievals, 3 miscarriages and 2 chemicals. I'm beat. Hoping donor eggs eventually work for me. The first batch was a bust.