‘Have your babies before 35’

Women who had to deal with three or more stressful events gave birth to the least co-ordinated children, said researchers.

Women who had to deal with three or more stressful events gave birth to the least co-ordinated children, said researchers.

Published Oct 1, 2013

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London - Young women who decide to delay their first baby until their late 30s run the risk of being left childless because of age-related infertility, scientists have warned.

A woman's fertility declines dramatically after the age of 35 and an increasing number of women are finding that they have to turn to IVF treatment to have any hope of becoming pregnant, experts said.

“Things are really going downhill between the ages of 30 and 40... the best cure of all is for women to have their babies before this clock strikes twelve,” said Professor Mary Herbert, a reproductive biologist at Newcastle University.

“They should think of family planning not just in the context of preventing pregnancy but also think of it in the context of having your babies at a time when you still have your reproductive fitness... I would be worried if my own daughter didn't have a child at 35,” Professor Herbert said.

The number of British women between the ages of 35 and 39 giving birth for the first time has increased from 6.8 percent in 1986 to 17 per cent in 2008. This has been accompanied by significant increase in the number of women over 40 seeking fertility treatment, many of whom will ultimately fail to become pregnant, the experts said.

Fertility specialists are increasingly concerned about the trend towards having children later in life because, although it can work for some women, it leaves many unable to conceive naturally.

“We cannot get away from the age-related decline in fertility and I think to put forward the idea of delaying having children is fine for some people but it's not fine for everybody,” said Jane Stewart, a consultant in reproductive medicine at Newcastle University.

“I don't think women understand the risks they run when they reach the older ages....It's better to think about it [in your 20s] and have that thought process inform all possibilities,” she told the British Science Festival in Newcastle.

She added: “Women at the age of menopause have effectively run out of eggs. We do run out of time.” - The Independent

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