Yes, some women can become pregnant after menopause using donor eggs and IVF. Menopause stops the ovaries from regularly releasing eggs, but a healthy uterus may still be able to carry a pregnancy with hormonal support. Your age, general health and individual risk factors will help determine whether pregnancy is a safe option for you.
Perhaps menopause arrived earlier than you expected. Perhaps becoming a parent happened later than you planned. Or perhaps life simply took you down a different path.
Whatever brought you here, you probably have questions.
In this blog, we’ll explain how donor egg IVF works after menopause, what your body needs to carry a pregnancy and which health risks your doctors will consider.
What is menopause?
Menopause is the stage when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. It happens when the ovaries stop regularly releasing eggs and produce lower levels of hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone. According to Healthdirect Australia, most Australian women experience menopause between 45 and 55 years of age – the average age being 51.
Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause. During this stage, periods and ovulation can become irregular. Pregnancy may still be possible because the ovaries can occasionally release an egg.
Postmenopause refers to the years after menopause. Once menopause has occurred, natural pregnancy using your own eggs is generally no longer possible.
Can younger women experience menopause?
Menopause can happen earlier than expected. Early menopause happens between the ages of 40 and 45. Premature ovarian insufficiency, or POI, is when the ovaries stop working as expected before the age of 40. POI can cause irregular or absent periods, menopausal symptoms and make it harder to fall pregnant. Unlike age-related menopause, women with POI may occasionally ovulate, but it can be unpredictable.
According to the Australasian Menopause Society, POI and early menopause may be linked to genetic conditions, autoimmune conditions, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery involving the ovaries. Sometimes, a clear cause is never found.
Can you get pregnant naturally after menopause?
Pregnancy can still happen during perimenopause because ovulation may occur even when periods are irregular. After menopause, the ovaries are no longer regularly releasing eggs, so natural conception is no longer possible.
Menopause affects egg production, but it does not always mean the uterus has lost its ability to carry a pregnancy.
Can you carry a baby using donor eggs after menopause?
Yes, but the exact medication and timing will depend on your health, your uterus and your fertility clinic’s treatment plan. Donor egg IVF uses an egg provided by a donor. The egg is fertilised with sperm from a partner or sperm donor in an IVF laboratory. The resulting embryo is then transferred to the recipient’s uterus.
Before embryo transfer, the recipient usually takes hormonal medication to prepare the endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus. Oestrogen helps the lining grow, while progesterone helps create the right conditions for implantation and early pregnancy.
Can your body carry a pregnancy after menopause?
A healthy uterus may be able to carry a pregnancy after the ovaries have stopped releasing eggs. However, the uterus is only one part of the picture. Pregnancy places extra pressure on the heart, blood vessels and other parts of the body. Usually, an obstetrician will look at your overall health before recommending IVF treatment through a fertility specialist.
Your assessment may include:
- Blood pressure and cardiovascular checks.
- Diabetes and metabolic health screening.
- A review of your medical history and medications.
- An examination of your uterus and endometrial lining.
- A discussion about your emotional wellbeing and support network.
What are the risks of pregnancy after menopause?
Donor eggs can address the lack of viable eggs after menopause, but they do not remove the health risks linked to carrying a pregnancy at an older age. Possible risks include:
- Gestational diabetes.
- High blood pressure and pre-eclampsia.
- Placental complications.
- Premature birth.
- Low birth weight or restricted fetal growth.
- Caesarean birth.
- Greater strain on existing health conditions.
A Monash IVF study of donor egg IVF in postmenopausal women compared 36 younger women with premature ovarian failure and 18 women aged 40 or older who had experienced menopause. The cumulative pregnancy rates were similar at 75% and 72%. However, pregnancy complications occurred in 30% of pregnancies in the younger group and 83% in the older group.
A study of 45 healthy women aged 50 to 63 who became pregnant through IVF using donor eggs found that 35% experienced pregnancy-related high blood pressure, 20% developed gestational diabetes and 78% gave birth by caesarean section. Your personal risk may be higher or lower depending on your age, medical history and current health.
Does age affect the success of donor egg IVF?
The donor’s age and egg quality play an important role in fertilisation, embryo development and implantation. Using eggs from a younger donor can reduce some of the egg-related risks associated with age, including the risk of certain chromosomal conditions.
The recipient’s age and health remain important because they affect the safety of pregnancy and birth. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine explains that donor eggs can restore pregnancy potential after menopause, while age-related pregnancy risks still need careful assessment. The ASRM guidance for egg donors and recipients also recommends careful medical, genetic and psychological screening as part of the donor egg process.
Read: Poor egg quality: What you need to know
Is donor egg IVF after menopause right for you?
Donor egg IVF may make pregnancy possible after menopause, but every woman’s situation is different. An obstetrician and a fertility specialist can assess your health, explain your individual risks and help you decide whether carrying a pregnancy is right for you.
If you are exploring donor eggs, we can help you understand the donor egg process and the programs available through partner fertility clinics across Australia. Contact us to learn more about your options.
