How do age and ovarian reserve influence IVF live birth rates?

• A. Older age and diminished reserve yield higher live birth rates
• B. Younger age but very low ovarian reserve yields highest
• C. Younger age and higher ovarian reserve yield higher live birth rates; older age and diminished reserve reduce success even with aggressive stimulation
• D. Age and ovarian reserve do not affect IVF outcomes

Answer: (C)

Age and ovarian reserve shape IVF outcomes because they affect both the number and the quality of eggs available for fertilization. Younger age is associated with better egg quality and a lower rate of chromosomal abnormalities in embryos, so the chance of a healthy pregnancy is higher. Ovarian reserve indicates how many eggs remain and how well the ovaries will respond to stimulation; higher reserve means more eggs can be retrieved and more embryos to choose from, increasing the odds of a viable pregnancy. When you have both favorable factors—younger age and higher ovarian reserve—the likelihood of a live birth is higher. If age is older and reserve is diminished, there are fewer eggs and a greater risk of aneuploid embryos, so outcomes decline even with aggressive stimulation. This combination best explains why younger age with higher ovarian reserve leads to higher live birth rates and why older age with diminished reserve reduces success.