In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a fertility treatment option for couples who are unable to achieve and/or maintain a successful pregnancy and need medical assistance. There are numerous fertility treatment options for intended parents. The appropriate type of treatment for each patient depends on several critical factors:
1- Age of the female patient
2- Age of the male patient
3- Reproductive history
4- Genetic history (if available)
5- Whether own eggs and/or sperm cells will be used in the treatment.
In younger age groups, using own eggs in the IVF cycle is a more likely option, unless there is a specific reason to the contrary. For example, women suffering from premature ovarian failure or early menopause are at a disadvantage when it comes to mothering a child using their own eggs. Women in their 20s, 30s or early 40s, who suffer from premature ovarian failure, can undergo the “Ovarian PRP Treatment”. With this treatment method, we aim to collect dormant primordial follicles and subject them to oogenesis. After this procedure, we have achieved pregnancy in many women both through natural intercourse and IVF treatment. The oldest patient who achieved natural pregnancy after this procedure at the Northern Cyprus IVF Center is 48 years old. However, patients who are likely to have a larger population of primordial follicles have a clear advantage when it comes to this treatment method. We therefore believe that women with premature ovarian failure are the most suitable patient group for this treatment option.
Women in their late 40s or early 50s are less likely to benefit from ovarian rejuvenation protocols due to significantly reduced ovarian reserve. In each ovarian cycle, usually only one follicle reaches ovulation, where many dormant primordial follicles are wasted. Over the years, the number of these primordial follicles decreases and reaches a very low number in the mid-40s. As a result, using donor eggs instead of ovarian PRP treatment becomes a more viable option.
IVF treatment with egg donation refers to an IVF cycle using eggs from an egg donor with a proven pregnancy. Using eggs from a younger, healthy egg donor with a proven pregnancy can usually result in an IVF success rate of around 75%. This is due to the capacity of the uterus to accommodate pregnancy even in much older age brackets. It has been shown in many clinical studies that the age of the uterus does not affect pregnancy outcomes in patients receiving donor eggs. Although it is technically possible for a woman to conceive and sustain a pregnancy even in her 70s, other health risks and considerations prohibit such a practice. However, women in their 40s and 50s can certainly use donor egg IVF treatment to fulfill the lifelong dream of becoming a mother.
Patients in their mid-40s with acceptable levels of ovarian activity may also benefit from a combination of treatment modalities. For example, patients who have not achieved IVF success with their own eggs but still have an antral follicle count of 10 or higher could potentially benefit from cytoplasmic transfer. This is a treatment option that we can recommend in cases where we believe oocyte senescence and mitochondrial damage may be the culprit, but the patient still has an acceptable ovarian reserve. This allows the use of the patient’s own oocytes, but replacing the cytoplasmic content with cytoplasm from an egg donor. The aim of this treatment option is to provide a more favorable environment in the patient’s own oocyte, while using the patient’s own genetic material.