How Much Does IVF Cost If You’re Over 40?
Age is one of the biggest factors in IVF success rates — and in how much you’ll likely spend. For people over 40, treatment often involves more cycles, more add-ons, and sometimes donor eggs. In this blog, we break down the real cost of IVF for those aged 40 and above in the UK.
Why costs rise with age Fertility naturally declines with age. Egg quantity and quality drop significantly after 35 and more steeply after 40. This means older patients are often advised to:
- Try multiple cycles
- Consider advanced techniques like ICSI or PGT-A
- Explore egg donation
Basic IVF costs for over 40s:
- IVF cycle: £5,000 – £8,000
- Medication: £1,500 – £2,500 (higher doses often required)
- Add-ons (ICSI, PGT-A, assisted hatching): £1,000 – £3,000
- Frozen embryo transfer: £1,200 – £2,000
- Total per cycle: £7,500 – £13,000
Donor egg IVF costs: Many women over 42 are encouraged to use donor eggs due to low success with their own eggs.
- Donor egg package: £7,000 – £12,000
- IVF treatment: £4,000 – £6,000
- Medication and monitoring: £1,000 – £2,000
- Total: £12,000 – £18,000 per cycle
Success rates and cycle planning According to HFEA data:
- IVF success rate (own eggs, age 40–42): ~10–15%
- IVF success rate (own eggs, 43–44): ~5%
- IVF success rate (donor eggs): ~25–35% across ages
Because of lower success rates, many over-40s are advised to consider:
- Multi-cycle or refund programmes (see Blog 40)
- Early decision-making about donor eggs
- Clinics that specialise in advanced-age IVF
Real-life example: Sam and Louise started IVF at 41. After two unsuccessful cycles using Louise’s eggs (£15,000 total), they switched to a donor egg IVF package costing £13,200. Their third cycle resulted in a pregnancy.
Additional costs to consider:
- Counselling (often required for donor IVF): £50–£100 per session
- Legal fees (if using known donor): £300–£500
- Travel and time off work (see Blog 44)
IVF after 40 is absolutely possible, but it often comes with higher financial and emotional investment. The key is to plan early, choose a clinic experienced in treating older patients, and have open discussions about your options.
