Can I undergo in vitro fertilization at age 59?

I am marrying a 34-year-old Nigerian. I know how much they cherish having children so I would like to give it a try if it is possible. I am very healthy and believe I could carry a child. Can I undergo in vitro fertilization? If not, which procedure do you recommend?

Answers from doctors (1)


Fertility Center & Applied Genetics of Florida

Published on Jul 11, 2013

At the age of 59, you are probably past menopause. You may do IVF with the assistance of an egg donor. Egg donor IVF involves matching you with an anonymous egg donor in her 20s that will take the fertility drugs while you take estrogen to prepare your womb for the embryo. Your husband gives a specimen to fertilize the eggs, then the embryo is implanted into your womb and you carry the pregnancy. Realistically, given your age of 59, you have to be in outstanding physical shape and in outstanding health in order to avoid excessive risks in pregnancy. Patients of extreme advanced maternal age are usually required to pass a cardiac stress test and a thorough pre-pregnancy evaluation. Advanced age patients have an increased risk of pre-term birth, blood pressure problems, diabetes, and are considered very high risk pregnancies. An alternative to all this risk is to consider IVF with the assistance of a gestational carrier. I must emphasize that there are ethical issues as well as significant possible morbidities that need to be discussed. Most reputable IVF doctors wont treat a patient of extreme advanced maternal age unless she is in exceptional health and of normal BMI.

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Answered by Fertility Center & Applied Genetics of Florida

At the age of 59, you are probably past menopause. You may do IVF with the assistance of an egg donor. Egg donor IVF involves matching you with an anonymous egg donor in her 20s that will take the fertility drugs while you take estrogen to prepare your womb for the embryo. Your husband gives a specimen to fertilize the eggs, then the embryo is implanted into your womb and you carry the pregnancy. Realistically, given your age of 59, you have to be in outstanding physical shape and in outstanding health in order to avoid excessive risks in pregnancy. Patients of extreme advanced maternal age are usually required to pass a cardiac stress test and a thorough pre-pregnancy evaluation. Advanced age patients have an increased risk of pre-term birth, blood pressure problems, diabetes, and are considered very high risk pregnancies. An alternative to all this risk is to consider IVF with the assistance of a gestational carrier. I must emphasize that there are ethical issues as well as significant possible morbidities that need to be discussed. Most reputable IVF doctors wont treat a patient of extreme advanced maternal age unless she is in exceptional health and of normal BMI.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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