The biggest single factor; donor eggs reset the odds.
The biggest single factor; donor eggs reset the odds. For advanced maternal age, After 40, own-egg success falls fast; donor eggs reset it to ~48% and usually win on cost per baby abroad.
The chart below shows live-birth rate per embryo transfer from public registries — the single most important number for advanced maternal age, because the cost per baby is the country price multiplied by the cycles you are likely to need.
Chart: live-birth % per transfer — donor-egg success stays ~48% at any age, while own-egg success falls with maternal age (SART/CDC 2019, ESHRE/EIM).
Treatment route and the true cost per baby depend on your age and egg situation — model it in the cost-per-baby calculator. For advanced maternal age we most often compare Czechia, Greece, Spain, North Cyprus.
Egg quantity and quality decline steadily from the mid-30s, and the proportion of chromosomally abnormal eggs rises sharply — which is why own-egg live birth falls from roughly half under 35 to single digits by the mid-40s in the CDC and HFEA registries. Donor eggs from a young screened donor bypass this almost entirely, holding live birth near 48% per transfer at any recipient age (ESHRE). PGT-A can lower miscarriage risk by transferring only chromosomally normal embryos, but it cannot manufacture good eggs where ovarian reserve is already exhausted; for many women over 42 the cumulative own-egg live-birth rate plateaus regardless of how many cycles are attempted.
The CDC and HFEA registries both show the same pattern: live-birth per transfer falls steadily with age due to rising chromosomal abnormality. Own-egg success is roughly 50% under 35, 40% at 35–37, 30% at 38–40, 15–20% at 41–42, 8% at 43–44, and 4% by 45+ (CDC 2021, HFEA 2023). Donor eggs from a young screened donor bypass this: about 48% at any recipient age, regardless of whether the recipient is 25 or 50.
IVF success is driven mainly by maternal age and egg type, not by the country you choose. The public registries put own-egg live birth at roughly:
The success figures on this page come from national IVF registries, not clinic marketing. Primary sources:
Compiled and fact-checked by the BabyPath editorial team against the registries above. Per-retrieval (CDC) and per-transfer (HFEA) use different denominators — both are shown so the numbers are not misread. Educational information, not medical advice; outcomes vary by individual and clinic — always consult a licensed fertility specialist.
After 40, own-egg success falls fast; donor eggs reset it to ~48% and usually win on cost per baby abroad.
Own-egg success tracks maternal age — roughly 48% under 35, ~32% at 38–40 and ~8% by 43 — while donor eggs hold near 48% at any age (SART/CDC and ESHRE registries).
We compare Czechia, Greece, Spain, North Cyprus on cost per baby, live-birth success and legal eligibility — see the by-destination links below.
Yes — cost per baby is the country price multiplied by the number of cycles you are likely to need, and your diagnosis shifts expected success, so the cheapest sticker price is rarely the cheapest baby.
Often yes, especially under about 38; where ovarian reserve is low, donor eggs can be the cheaper and faster route to a live birth. Model both in the calculator.
The success rates, cost ranges and legal-eligibility rules on this page are compiled from public clinical registries and national guidelines — not opinion. They are planning estimates and do not replace advice from a licensed fertility specialist.
Reviewed against: HFEA (UK), SART/CDC (US), ESHRE/EIM (EU) and NICE CG156.
Compiled and fact-checked by the BabyPath editorial team against the primary sources above · last reviewed 2026-06-12 · BabyPath is an independent cross-border comparison platform, not a clinic. Always consult a licensed clinician before starting treatment.
We compare IVF success rates, prices and laws across 12 countries — using real CDC, HFEA and ESHRE data — to show your true cost per baby, not per cycle. Donor eggs, age 40+, single or same-sex: we show where it's affordable and legal for you.
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