Most scientists and doctors agree that the answer to this question is a resounding
“Yes!” However, more and more women do not heed caution, and instead
decide to face the risks associated with IVF Pregnancies head-on.

Although pregnancy success stories exist for women in their 50’s and
60’s (up to the age of 66!), health risks become a much greater hazard,
both for mother and baby, as time ticks on. Also, there are many major health
risks associated with IVF Pregnancies, but especially for women over 60.

It is true that this sort of safety digression starts as early as age 35…
don’t ya just hear that clock tickin’? But is In Vitro Fertilization
OK after 60?

IVF plays a role in the increase in complications regardless of age, but the
chance of the risks occurring only get greater with age. Age not only increases
the risks during pregnancy, but women in their 60s are at 3 times the risk for
premature babies and 2 times the risk for fetal mortality.

There is an astounding 30% higher risk of major malformations in babies born
to couples involved in IVF Pregnancies. The sad news is that these are truths,
not myths. These statistics are staggering and should make any later-life couple
rethink adoption, especially when IVF treatment is required.

Now, adoption, on the other hand, is a very notable alternative. I have never
understood why so many couples shun the idea. There are many children that are
happy and healthy, and available in any age, size and disposition, and just
need a family to care for them; yet so many couples obsess over the idea of
having their own child and won’t give adoption a second thought. Blood
is thicker than water, I guess.

When age is an issue and medicine is required to conceive, is it too much to
ask why couples put themselves at risk to go to such extremes? Is it really
so important to have a child of your genes? Is it more important than giving
a loving child who has no family everything they could ever dream of? Just make
sure, either way, that you have a good amount of money in an account for them,
since you likely won’t even be there for but 20% of their life anyway.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 10th, 2008 at 2:15 am and is filed under Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.