Is there any age limit for IVF?
IVF is one of the assisted reproductive technologies, which aims to help couples who cannot conceive naturally realize their reproductive dreams. However, whether there is an age limit for IVF has always been controversial. The following will elaborate on the age limit, relevant policies and reality of IVF.
1. Eugenics age limit
In China, the Measures for the Administration of Assisted Reproductive Technology issued by the National Health Commission stipulates that women can try assisted reproductive technology, including test tube babies, in the case of secondary infertility (five years of marriage without pregnancy). However, the method does not clearly stipulate the age limit of IVF.
Some authoritative medical institutions at home and abroad pointed out that the ovarian function of women gradually declined after reaching the peak at about 45 years old, and the success rate of IVF will gradually decline with the growth of age. Therefore, many hospitals will set an age limit for women to perform infant related operations at the age of 40.
Many countries in the world have certain regulations on the age limit of test tube babies. For example, the United Kingdom, Australia and other countries usually set the upper limit for women to be 49 years old, and the United States set the upper limit for women to be 50 years old. With this as a reference, it can be inferred that the age limit in practice is also within this range.
2. Relevant policies and regulations
Although there is no explicit age limit for IVF, China's relevant policies have been constantly improving. For example, the Administrative Measures for Family Planning Technical Services issued by the Ministry of Health stipulates that it is not allowed to conduct assisted reproductive technology operations for unmarried women who have exceeded the legal age of marriage or couples who have exceeded the legal age of childbearing.
In addition, the General Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army issued the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility in 2018, which stipulates that women should not be over 45 years old and men should not be over 60 years old.
These policies are aimed at protecting the health of women and children, making rational use of assisted reproductive technology resources, and ensuring the safety and effectiveness of IVF operation.
3. Actual operation in hospital
Although there is no clear policy provision, according to their own experience and professional judgment, major hospitals usually set the upper age limit for female infants at the age of 40. This is mainly due to two factors:
First, the increasing age of women will lead to the decline of ovarian function, the number and quality of eggs may be reduced, thus affecting the success rate of IVF. Secondly, women's physical condition after pregnancy and pregnancy risk will also increase with age.
Therefore, in practice, the hospital will generally take into account women's physical condition, ovarian function, pregnancy risk and other factors. For women over 40 years of age, the hospital will make more careful evaluation and baby operation decisions.
4. Summary
Although there is no clear policy on the age limit of IVF, the hospital will generally set the upper limit of the age of infants for related operations at about 40 years according to women's ovarian function, physical condition, pregnancy risk and other factors. In addition, the National Health Commission and other relevant departments are also constantly improving relevant regulations to ensure the safety and effectiveness of IVF operation.
To sum up, the age limit of IVF exists in a certain range in practical operation. The hospital will evaluate women's physiological conditions and select the most appropriate method of pregnancy to improve the success rate and ensure the health of mothers and infants.
