Can IVF Work After 22 Years of Infertility? Exploring IVF and Surrogacy in Latin America

The short answer: IVF can sometimes lead to pregnancy after many years of infertility, even when the intended mother is over 40 or has very low ovarian reserve. However, one successful case cannot predict another person’s outcome. Age, egg and sperm health, embryo development, uterine health, medical history, and the treatment plan all matter. For some intended parents, the appropriate pathway may include their own eggs, donor eggs, a gestational surrogate, or a combination of these options.

BBC News Indonesia shared the couple’s story through a moving video report that drew wider attention to their extraordinary journey. The Indonesian couple, from Sumenep in East Java, welcomed healthy boy-and-girl twins after waiting 22 years to become parents. The mother was 41, the father was 43, and supporting Indonesian reports stated that her anti-Müllerian hormone, or AMH, level was 0.1 ng/mL—an indication of very low ovarian reserve.

After undergoing fertility evaluation and treatment, the couple reportedly created two embryos through IVF. Both embryos implanted, and the twins were born on July 2, 2026. Their experience is a moving reminder that a difficult fertility diagnosis is not always the end of the path to parenthood.

It is equally important to view the story responsibly. This was an exceptional individual outcome, not a guarantee that one IVF cycle, the transfer of two embryos, or treatment after 40 will produce the same result for someone else. Every intended parent needs medical advice based on their own diagnosis and goals.

For families evaluating IVF, egg donation, or gestational surrogacy in Mexico and Colombia, the case raises several useful questions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRfVMealyFs

What Does an AMH Level of 0.1 Mean for IVF?

AMH is a hormone used by fertility specialists to help estimate ovarian reserve—the remaining quantity of eggs in the ovaries. A very low AMH result may suggest that fewer eggs are likely to be retrieved during ovarian stimulation.

Low AMH does not automatically mean that pregnancy is impossible. It also does not measure egg quality by itself. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine explains that AMH and antral follicle count are useful for estimating ovarian response and potential egg yield, but they are much weaker independent predictors of pregnancy and live birth. Age remains a major factor because egg quality and the likelihood of chromosomal abnormalities change over time.

A fertility specialist may consider several factors together, including:

• The intended mother’s age and overall health

• AMH and antral follicle count

• Previous responses to fertility medication

• Sperm quality

• Embryo development and genetic testing results, when applicable

• Uterine health and pregnancy history

• Previous IVF cycles, implantation failures, or pregnancy losses

This is why an individualized medical review matters more than a single laboratory number.

Can IVF Succeed After Many Years of Infertility?

Yes, IVF may still be possible after a long period of infertility, but the number of years a person has been trying is only one part of the clinical picture. The cause of infertility, age, prior treatment, ovarian response, sperm factors, and embryo quality may all influence the recommended next step.

Depending on the evaluation, a fertility physician may discuss:

1. IVF using the intended parents’ own eggs and sperm

2. IVF using donor eggs, donor sperm, or both

3. Additional embryo banking before transfer

4. Preimplantation genetic testing when clinically appropriate

5. Transfer to the intended mother

6. Transfer to a gestational surrogate when carrying a pregnancy is not medically possible or advisable

The central lesson from this couple’s experience is not that persistence guarantees a particular result. It is that people facing a difficult diagnosis may still have more than one family-building pathway to explore.

Does Transferring Two Embryos Improve IVF Success?

Not necessarily. The Indonesian couple reportedly had two embryos transferred, and both implanted. That outcome should not be interpreted as evidence that transferring two embryos is the best approach for every patient.

Multiple pregnancy increases health risks for the pregnant person and babies, including preterm birth and low birth weight. Current embryo-transfer planning generally aims to achieve a healthy singleton pregnancy whenever possible. The appropriate number of embryos depends on factors such as age, embryo testing, embryo stage, treatment history, and the physician’s clinical judgment.

When IVF is part of a surrogacy journey, intended parents should discuss embryo-transfer strategy with the treating fertility clinic and ensure that the surrogate receives her own independent medical guidance.

When Might Intended Parents Consider Gestational Surrogacy?

IVF creates embryos; gestational surrogacy provides a pathway for an embryo to be carried by a surrogate who has no genetic relationship to the child. A physician may recommend or discuss surrogacy when pregnancy is impossible, medically contraindicated, or associated with significant health risks.

Circumstances may include:

• Absence of a uterus or certain uterine conditions

• Serious medical conditions that make pregnancy unsafe

• Recurrent implantation failure or pregnancy loss, depending on the diagnosis

• Previous cancer treatment or reproductive surgery

• Family building for male same-sex couples or single fathers

Low AMH alone does not necessarily mean a person needs a surrogate. A surrogate addresses the ability to carry a pregnancy, while low AMH concerns ovarian reserve. Some intended parents may use their own embryos with a surrogate; others may need donor eggs as well. The medical and family-building plan should be developed case by case.

How Can Atlas Support an IVF and Surrogacy Journey in Latin America?

Atlas Surrogacy coordinates structured family-building pathways for international intended parents in Mexico and Colombia. Support may begin with existing embryos or include coordination with partner fertility clinics when IVF or egg donation is needed before surrogacy can proceed.

Depending on the selected destination, program, and individual circumstances, coordination may include:

• Reviewing embryo status and treatment readiness with a partner clinic

• Coordinating IVF appointments and communication

• Exploring egg-donation options

• Coordinating surrogate screening and matching

• Referrals to independent legal professionals

• Pregnancy updates and case management

• Guidance relating to delivery and post-birth documentation

Atlas is a coordination and consulting organization. Medical care is provided by licensed physicians and fertility clinics, and legal advice is provided by independent attorneys.

Mexico or Colombia: Which Surrogacy Destination May Be a Better Fit?

Atlas supports intended parents evaluating programs in Mexico City, Cancun, and Bogotá. There is no single destination that is right for every family.

Mexico

Mexico surrogacy programs may be considered by intended parents seeking established fertility resources, international coordination, and program options for people who already have embryos or still require IVF or an egg donor. Legal procedures can vary by location and circumstance, so individual legal review is essential.

Colombia

Surrogacy in Colombia may be evaluated by international intended parents, including LGBTQIA+ families and single intended parents. Medical needs, embryo location, family structure, budget, nationality, and post-birth documentation requirements should all be reviewed before choosing a program.

During a consultation, the Atlas team can help intended parents compare destinations based on:

• Whether embryos have already been created

• Whether donor eggs or sperm are needed

• The intended parents’ nationality and family structure

• Medical and legal considerations

• Travel preferences

• Program scope, estimated costs, and timelines

• Birth registration and return-home planning

Explore Atlas’s Latin America destinations or schedule a private consultation for guidance specific to your circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can IVF work after age 40?

IVF can result in pregnancy after 40, but success rates generally decline with age, particularly when using a patient’s own eggs. Ovarian reserve, egg quality, sperm health, embryo development, and medical history all affect the outlook. A fertility physician can explain whether IVF with one’s own eggs, donor eggs, embryo banking, or another approach is appropriate.

Does very low AMH mean IVF will fail?

No. Very low AMH often predicts a lower response to ovarian stimulation and potentially fewer retrieved eggs, but it does not prove that pregnancy or live birth is impossible. ASRM advises that extremely low AMH should be used for counselling and treatment planning, not as the sole reason to refuse IVF treatment.

Can donor eggs be used in a surrogacy journey?

Yes. An embryo may be created using a donor egg and sperm from an intended parent or donor, then transferred to a gestational surrogate. Donor eligibility, screening, consent, medical treatment, and legal arrangements should be coordinated with qualified professionals.

Can intended parents use embryos they already have?

Potentially. The receiving clinic must review embryo records, storage details, infectious-disease documentation, shipping requirements, and other laboratory or regulatory considerations. Atlas can help coordinate communication about an existing-embryo pathway, but the clinic determines medical acceptance.

Is surrogacy in Latin America available to international intended parents?

Programs in Mexico and Colombia may be available to international intended parents, but eligibility and the legal process depend on the destination, nationality, family structure, medical circumstances, and current law. Intended parents should obtain independent legal advice in the country where the birth will occur and in their home country before proceeding.

How do I know whether Mexico or Colombia is right for me?

The best fit depends on your embryos, donor needs, family structure, budget, travel preferences, legal circumstances, and documentation requirements. A program comparison should include medical, legal, financial, and logistical factors—not price alone.

A Difficult Diagnosis Does Not Define Every Possible Path

The birth of twins after one couple’s 22-year wait is an extraordinary personal story. It offers hope, but responsible fertility care also requires realistic, individualized counselling. A low AMH result, prior unsuccessful treatment, or an inability to carry a pregnancy may change the recommended pathway; it does not necessarily eliminate every route to parenthood.

If you are considering IVF, donor eggs, or gestational surrogacy in Latin America, Atlas can help you understand the questions to take to your medical and legal professionals and compare structured options in Mexico and Colombia.

Book a confidential Atlas intended-parent consultation to discuss your current embryo status, donor needs, preferred destination, and next steps.

Sources

• BBC News Indonesia: Baby twins born after a 22-year wait

• detikHealth: Indonesian couple welcomes twins after a 22-year wait

• TIMES Indonesia: IVF treatment and clinical details reported in the case

• American Society for Reproductive Medicine: Testing and interpreting measures of ovarian reserve

• American Society for Reproductive Medicine: Guidance on the number of embryos to transfer

Medical and legal disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes and is not medical or legal advice. Outcomes vary, and no fertility or surrogacy program can guarantee that a particular treatment will result in pregnancy or live birth. Intended parents should consult licensed fertility physicians and independent attorneys familiar with the relevant jurisdictions before making decisions.