Should Diabetes Risk Keep Older Women From Giving Birth?

Filed in archive Views on May 12, 2006

Recently, controversy erupted when the world found out that a 63-year-old woman is seventh months pregnant after using IVF to conceive. Although giving birth by women over 50 has increased 24(!) times over in the last few years, many doctors and laypersons protest, claiming that it is not safe for mother or baby.

The National Health Service currently refuses free IVF treatment to women over 39, forcing would-be mothers over that age to pay for private treatment. However, the HFEA figures reveal that doctors are not adhering to an "unofficial" guideline to refuse treatment to women over the age of 49. The guideline is intended to limit the potential health risks to mother and child.

Amid mounting concern that IVF is being used to extend fertility beyond the limits of what is ethically acceptable, a leading expert yesterday called on the HFEA, which currently allows clinicians to decide on eligibility for IVF, to set an age limit for those who want the treatment.


There is an increased risk of deadly complications such as heart attacks and diabetes, but is this a reason for a woman to give up the dream of motherhood, even if it is 'late' in life? Don't potential complications exist for every birth, regardless of age? (childbirth is still one of the leading worldwide causes of women's deaths.) What do you think? Does potential reward outweigh the potential risk?