Yes, I attempted my first IVF cycle at 24, with male factor infertility, and unfortunately it failed. Now at 25, I am hoping to try again in a few months. The experience has been isolating.
I have dedicated the majority of my 20s to trying to conceive and now, at 29 and a half, I only have one embryo left. My husband and I have decided that regardless of the outcome, our goal for our 30s is to take back control of our lives. In my opinion, age should not be a determining factor in deciding when to start a family as everyone has their own timeline. However, be prepared for possible negative comments from others and be ready to either defend yourself or let them go.
I advise you to freeze your eggs at a young age. You’ll thank yourself later.
Age is a very personal decision when it comes to starting a family, whether it be due to health concerns, uncertainty in relationships, or other reasons. This group is here to support any mother who is ready to take the next steps. Family planning varies greatly across cultures, with some expecting children in their early 20s while others wait until their 30s or even 40s.
Yesterday, during my urologist visit, the doctor mentioned that younger eggs have better success rates with IVF. At 26, I was advised to not delay decisions on MTESE. It’s surprising that at my age, some are told to try for a year before seeking intervention. My PCOS led my doctor to recommend a SA for my husband, revealing azoospermia. My friend in her 30s, however, had her retrieval without concerns about her age. While talking to her, I sometimes question if I’m too young to consider this. Our options seem to be IVF + MTESE or IVF + donor sperm, unless I’m open to IUI with donor sperm.
Starting IVF at 40, I am constantly amazed by the resilience of you 20-somethings in this sub. It’s a tough journey, and I know that my younger self could not have handled it like you do. I admire your determination and strength. Whether you have success or face challenges, this experience will shape you in ways others your age may not understand. I’m grateful for this supportive community and happy to be a part of it. Best of luck to everyone! 
Honestly, I regret not starting sooner. We have been trying to conceive since I was 25 and now, at almost 30, we still haven’t had any success.
At 24, my spouse and I decided to pursue IVF. Despite obstacles like insurance issues and work commitments, we completed our first retrieval just before my 26th birthday, followed by a second retrieval six months later. It’s uncommon in this community, where I often notice individuals closer to my age group participating in the egg freezing sub. I often feel like the odd one out.
At 37, I feel caught between feeling like I am too young and too old for this situation. I believed I was healthy and fertile, but I also struggle with feeling inexperienced compared to others. Starting a family at this age is considered “advanced maternal age” or even geriatric pregnancy, making me wish I had started earlier.
I had always anticipated undergoing IVF due to my partner’s fertility issue. Despite being reassured by my husband’s doctors that my youth would be a benefit, my tests at 27 revealed results more typical of a 43-year-old. In retrospect, I regret not pushing for testing earlier, as I now feel we started the process too late.
Starting early is usually not regretted by anyone. The younger you are, the more likely you are to succeed as you have time and biology on your side in your 20s.
I wish I had started my IVF journey earlier! Five years ago, I had one successful cycle but also faced three painful years of struggles with multiple miscarriages, operations, and failed IVFs. If I could give advice to my younger self, I would strongly recommend freezing my eggs in my early 30s. Best of luck to anyone going through a similar journey!
We began trying to conceive when I was 22 and my husband was 23, and we got married at 21/22. It took us four years to conceive. Despite being the youngest person at my clinic, I don’t feel too young and am grateful we started trying when we did, as infertility can affect individuals of any age.
There are times where I do and times where I don’t. After trying for 4 years, we recently did IVF. Despite being young with friends who don’t have kids yet, I’m the youngest cousin and my family has already started their own families. It’s tough feeling like no one truly understands our journey.
As a 28F, I don’t feel too young. Although I hadn’t planned for it, my stage 4 endo diagnosis made it clear that pursuing treatment was the next logical step. I am grateful to have discovered this at a young age rather than later on, potentially avoiding additional complications.
I began at the age of 26.
I’m a 28-year-old woman who can relate to this deeply. Going through surgery (having my tubes clipped) and IVF will make me the first in my family and in-laws dealing with infertility, while it seems to come naturally to everyone else. It can be emotionally devastating. You grow up with the expectation of starting a family by your 20s, but life doesn’t always go as planned. Being told you can’t conceive naturally is truly life-altering.
However, I try to maintain the perspective that learning now is better than later. It gives me time to explore options and make a plan, even if it wasn’t the one I envisioned. I’m still learning to come to terms with this reality.
If you ever need advice or someone to talk to who understands, feel free to DM me anytime!
I feel really strange about it. As a graduate student, I can’t help but feel guilty for taking this step at 27 when many other scientists wait until their careers are more established to start a family. It’s nice to know on reddit that I’m not alone in this.
I began IVF at 25 and wish I had undergone multiple egg retrievals to store embryos. Now nearing 40, I am still undergoing treatments.
I can really relate to this. I experienced my first miscarriage when I was 26 and now, at 28, I have had a total of 3 losses and am starting IVF. Sometimes I feel too young, sometimes I feel like I waited too long. However, it wasn’t until now that my partner and I both have stable careers and are ready to fully commit to having a child, even though we already have 4 fur babies.