IVF Exclusion Criteria: Who Doesn’t Qualify for IVF and Why

When you’re considering IVF, in vitro fertilization, a medical process where eggs are fertilized outside the body to help people conceive. Also known as fertility treatment, it’s not a guarantee for everyone—even if you’re desperate to have a baby. Not everyone qualifies. Clinics don’t turn people away lightly, but they do set limits based on science, safety, and realistic chances of success. These are called IVF exclusion criteria, the specific medical and lifestyle conditions that make someone ineligible for IVF treatment. They’re not about denying hope—they’re about avoiding false promises and protecting your health.

One of the biggest factors is age, a key biological marker that affects egg quality and IVF success. Most clinics won’t offer IVF to women over 45, and many stop at 42 or 43. Why? Because after that, the chance of a live birth drops below 5%, and the risk of miscarriage or chromosomal issues skyrockets. It’s not about being "too old"—it’s about the numbers. Your body’s egg supply and quality don’t magically improve with willpower. Another major exclusion is severe uterine abnormalities, conditions like a missing uterus, severe scarring, or untreatable fibroids that prevent embryo implantation. If the womb can’t hold a pregnancy, IVF won’t fix that. Then there’s uncontrolled chronic illness, like advanced diabetes, heart disease, or untreated cancer, that makes pregnancy dangerous. IVF adds stress to your body. If you’re already fighting a serious illness, adding hormones and pregnancy could put your life at risk.

Some exclusions are less obvious. If you’re severely underweight or obese, clinics may delay treatment—body fat affects hormone balance and egg response. Smoking? Many clinics require you to quit for at least three months before starting. Alcohol and drug use can also be deal-breakers. These aren’t moral judgments—they’re survival rules. IVF is expensive, physically taxing, and emotionally draining. Clinics need to focus their resources on cases where the odds are fair. You’ll also find that some people are turned away because they’ve had too many failed cycles already. After four or five unsuccessful tries, the chance of success drops so low that continuing isn’t medically recommended. It’s not about giving up—it’s about knowing when to stop and explore other paths like surrogacy or adoption.

The posts below dive into real stories and science behind these limits. You’ll find articles on IVF exclusion criteria tied to age, health conditions, and lifestyle choices. Some look at how IVF success changes after 40. Others explore why certain medical histories block access. There’s even a piece on long-term health outcomes for IVF-conceived children—because what happens after birth matters too. These aren’t abstract rules. They’re grounded in years of data, patient outcomes, and ethical medical practice. Whether you’re considering IVF, been turned down, or just want to understand why these limits exist, the articles here give you the unfiltered truth—no fluff, no marketing, just what actually happens behind the clinic doors.