Motherhood can now be attained even at 50. Sounds unbelievable but it is a possibility now. Latest research and medical advances have made this an option now.
Medical developments over the last few years have given women the choice to delay pregnancies. In today’s times, more and more women who are career oriented, independent and choose to get married late, have delayed pregnancies in order to balance other priorities.
Late pregnancies also come in handy for women who want to have a second or third child after a gap. Gives them more time with their first born and helps them plan the next child in a better way.
Dr. Kusum Sahni, senior consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Fortis La Femme, New Delhi, feels that planning a child in early 30’s maximises the chances of a successful pregnancy. But, now a days, a significant number of women try to become pregnant at a later age. Becoming a mother in ones late 40’s or 50’s in difficult but is not impossible any more.
However, late pregnancies have their own limitations. Older women face health risks which include a high risk of developing gestational diabetes, hypertension, Downs’ syndrome, IUGR, stillbirth and a preterm delivery.
There are three ways to become pregnant after the 40’s. However, each has its own probability of success, which depends upon the body type of the person in question.
Natural Conception –
Fertility is a matter of age. The older the woman, the lesser the chances of spontaneous conception. As a woman advances in age, the chances of her being left with healthy eggs, decreases considerably. Hence, the risks of having malformed babies also increases. Chances of a baby being born with genetic disorder are one in 2500 for a woman in her 20’s and increases to one in 350 in her 40’s.
In Vitro fertilisation (IVF) using own eggs –
Dr Ritu Sethi, Consultant Obstetrics & Gynecologist, Columbia Asia Hospita,l Gurugram, feels that In vitro fertilisation is a complex process of fertilising the matured eggs retrieved from the ovary to maximise the chances of pregnancy. Infertility can be caused by many factors such as fallopian tube damage or blockage, endometriosis, low sperm mobility and count or ovulation disorder. Success rate using own eggs at advanced age is poor. However, in case one has frozen her eggs when younger, the chances of clinics agreeing to fertilize them are higher.
In vitro Fertilisation (IVF) using donor eggs –
Being 50 means almost reaching menopause. It is a complex situation if one thinks of having a baby then. Hence, using young fertile eggs from a donor is a good option. However, it is important for the treating doctor to consider factors like the health condition of the woman. She has to be in good overall health to be able to carry the baby to full term.
“On an average, the success rate of the clinical pregnancy with a donor’s egg in women under the age of 45 is higher than those above that age. Therefore, women postponing pregnancy till advanced age should make use of the technical know-how and get their eggs/embryos frozen and use the same later at their convenience,” concluded Dr. Sethi.
Science sure dos make thing easy. But the risks, probabilities and health conditions should be studied, thought through and weighed well before embarking on this path.