How Old is Too Old to Conceive?
Obie Editorial Team
The Medical Facts
Before delving into the moral issues on advanced maternal age, let’s look at the medical facts. According to a research report published in 2002, women of advanced maternal age were no more likely to suffer preterm or multiples pregnancy than younger women. There was also a similar rate of miscarriage among the two age groups. The advanced maternal age pool conceived using donor eggs. Women in the study ranged from 50 to 63 years old. Of the 77 women in the study about 45.5% were able to conceive and carry the pregnancy full term.
The Moral Facts
Moral issues are something of a grey line in terms of advanced maternal age. Women in Hollywood often choose to wait until they are in their 40s to start having children. The rate of IVF and other fertility treatments are extremely high among celebrities for this reason, but the pregnancies happen and fetuses are born healthy and strong. Men often father children into their 60s and 70s, but women don’t have that option physically and morally there are societal issues with the practice. Despite the physical ability to conceive, there is a moral wall in the way for some women who may consider risk factors and raising children at an advanced age as two reasons to stop having children earlier in life.
Medically there are options for women who want to mother at an advanced maternal age, but our society is extremely rooted in morals and perceived values. Older fathers are still more accepted than older mothers.