Bottom line up front: Age is the single most important predictor of IVF success. Clinical pregnancy rates per transfer drop from roughly 50% at 35 to 25% at 40 to under 10% at 43+ with own eggs. Donor eggs reset the clock — a 45-year-old using eggs from a 25-year-old donor has success rates equivalent to the donor's age. These numbers are the same in Colombia as anywhere else — biology does not change with geography.
Success Rates by Age (Own Eggs)
| Age | Clinical Pregnancy Rate / Transfer | Live Birth Rate / Transfer | Avg Eggs Retrieved | Typical Embryos to Blast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | 45–55% | 40–50% | 10–15 | 5–8 |
| 35–37 | 38–48% | 33–42% | 8–12 | 3–6 |
| 38–39 | 30–40% | 25–33% | 6–10 | 2–4 |
| 40–41 | 20–30% | 15–22% | 4–8 | 1–3 |
| 42–43 | 10–18% | 8–13% | 3–6 | 0–2 |
| 44–45 | 5–10% | 3–7% | 2–4 | 0–1 |
| 46+ | <5% | <3% | 1–3 | Often 0 |
Why Age Matters So Much
Egg quality declines with age — specifically, the rate of chromosomal abnormalities (aneuploidy) in eggs increases sharply after 35. At 30, roughly 30% of eggs are aneuploid. At 40, it is 60%. At 44, it exceeds 90%. Aneuploid embryos either fail to implant, miscarry, or in rare cases result in chromosomal conditions.
This is not about egg quantity alone. A 42-year-old who retrieves 8 eggs may produce 4 embryos, of which 3 are aneuploid and only 1 is chromosomally normal. Her per-transfer success rate with that one normal embryo is actually quite good — the challenge is producing that embryo in the first place.
Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicle count (AFC) measure your current ovarian reserve more precisely than age. A 38-year-old with AMH of 3.0 ng/mL has better prospects than a 35-year-old with AMH of 0.5 ng/mL. Colombian clinics test both before recommending a protocol.
The Donor Egg Equation
Donor eggs change the math entirely. A 44-year-old using eggs from a 25-year-old donor has the same success rates as a 25-year-old doing IVF with her own eggs — approximately 55–65% per transfer. The uterus ages much more slowly than the ovaries; a healthy uterus can carry a pregnancy well into the mid-40s.
In Colombia, donor egg IVF costs $6,500–$10,500 total — compared to $25,000–$40,000 in the US. This price difference makes donor egg IVF accessible to patients who could never afford it at home.
What the Numbers Mean for You
These are population averages, not your individual odds. Two patients who are both 40 years old may have dramatically different prospects based on AMH, FSH, AFC, reproductive history, partner's sperm quality, and underlying conditions. The numbers above are starting points for conversation, not sentences.
If you are 43+ and a clinic tells you that you have a high chance of success with your own eggs, be cautious. The data does not support that claim for most patients at that age. A clinic willing to have an honest conversation about donor eggs when appropriate is acting in your interest — even if it is not what you want to hear.
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