Fertility for the Over-40s

Once a woman reaches 40, her chances of pregnancy decline. There are fewer eggs available in the ovaries, and their quality is reduced - as is the quality of the embryo after fertilisation. Here at the LWC, there are a number of ways we can help with IVF over 40 and help women have a successful pregnancy.

How can we help?

At the London Women’s Clinic, we have designed a fertility programme especially for women in their forties. In this special programme, our world leading specialists have brought together a range of techniques and support that recognise the challenges that women in this age group face, and which are known to be effective in helping them have a baby. Over 40, there is still much that can be done to assist a successful conception and pregnancy. Let us help you achieve it.

Our Fertility for the Over-40s programme brings together established techniques that together have been shown to help obtain good quality eggs when the odds are against it.

Fertility MOT

If you are over 40 and would like to understand more about your fertility, the first step would be to arrange a Fertility MOT. This includes a pelvic ultrasound scan to check for polyps, fibroids and cysts and an Anti Mullerian Hormone (AMH) blood test which will give an idea about your ovarian reserve. After the tests, your results will be discussed alongside your medical history during a consultation with a fertility specialist. At this point the specialist will be able to discuss your fertility and the best treatment options for you.

The wish to have a baby is a strong emotion, whatever the particular circumstances; some might be single women hoping to fulfil a lifelong desire, and some might be looking to complete a family which they started several years ago.

But it's a fact that many women in this age group have difficulty conceiving spontaneously, and are turning more and more to fertility treatment. They are not alone. In the UK around one in three of all women having fertility treatments were aged 38 or over. Depending on the results of your tests, a fertility specialist will be able to advise you on your treatment options. All of these options vary in success for women over 40 and your doctor can discuss with you what treatment will lead to the most successful outcome for you.

Meet the Fertility for the Over-40s team

Our dedicated Fertility for the Over-40s team includes specialists in fertility, gynaecology, obstetrics and genetics.

Professor Nick Macklon, Medical Director

Professor Macklon is a world-renowned expert in reproductive medicine. He has held professorships at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, the University of Southampton and the University of Copenhagen - where he is currently based. He is co-founder of the Complete Fertility Centre clinic in Southampton, and a member of the Executive Committee of the European Society of Human Reproduction.

Dr Shailaja Nair, Deputy Clinical Director

Dr Nair has more than 20 years experience in fertility and assisted reproduction. She worked as Associate Professor in a large teaching hospital and at the Cromwell IVF programme before joining the LWC in 1993. Dr Nair has extensive experience in all aspects of assisted conception, with a special interest in the egg-sharing and gamete donation programmes.

Mr Michael Summers, Consultant in Reproductive Medicine

A graduate of King’s College, Cambridge Mr Summers completed his medical training at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine followed by a Clinical Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. He is certified by both the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ACOG) as well as on the GMC Specialist Register as a Consultant in Reproductive Medicine. His special interests include IVF, embryo culture, embryo implantation and pre-implantation genetic diagnostics, areas of research in which he has published extensively.

Dr Mona Rahmati, Consultant Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist

Dr Rahmati graduated and completed her training in Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine in Rene Descartes - Paris V University. Before joining the team in 2015, she was a consultant in Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital and Bluets Hospital in Paris. Her special areas of interest are recurrent implantation failure and recurrent miscarriage.

Mr Ruwan Wimalasundera, Medical Director

Mr Ruwan Wimalasundera is Medical Director of the London Ultrasound Centre and Head of Obstetrics at the world renowned University College London Hospital (UCLH). He manages all aspects of pregnancy and delivers at UCLH and the Portland Hospital.