Mature Women's Fertility Misconception Clarified: Contrary to belief, it's impossible to give birth at 60, and pregnancy beyond traditional childbearing years does not lead to rejuvenation.
Havinga family: The evolving recommended age as per experts' insights
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The age to have your first child is seeing a noticeable rise. Just half a century ago, a woman having her first child at 25 was considered an "old primipara," according to Professor Vladimir Zuev, MD, PhD, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sechenov University.
Nowadays, healthcare professionals are reconsidering their stance on the ideal age to start a family and have children, suggesting it ranges from 23 to 35 years old.
- The primary reason for this shift is psychological maturity, says Dr. Natalia Goncharenko, MD, PhD, Head of the Department of Obstetric Pathology of Pregnancy at the Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Sechenov Center for Mother and Child*. Essentially, modern people take longer to grow up, so they should also have children later. Moreover, the lifespan of individuals has significantly increased, and this trend is expected to continue.
However, late childbearing also presents its challenges, as Natalia Goncharenko points out:
1. Women experience more health issues.
"Pollutants, diet, lifestyle, and viruses are just a few factors contributing to this issue," says Natalia Goncharenko.
2. Ages 40 and beyond may unmask underlying conditions.
Contrary to popular belief, pregnancy does not necessarily rejuvenate the body; instead, it can bring dormant diseases to the surface during pregnancy. For example, if a woman has minor vascular issues, pregnancy could trigger hypertension due to the increased load.
3. The aftermath of childbirth can be trying.
Although 40-year-olds may look youthful, they're not. Changes occur in physical, emotional, and mental states. It's much harder for a 45+ individual to go without sleep for extended periods when caring for a newborn.
- During the first three months, almost all infants have unstable gut flora and cry frequently, reminds Natalia Goncharenko. This can be more challenging for a 50-year-old than a 30-year-old.* Consequently, it is advisable for women to consider motherhood earlier.
4. Parents' age increases the risk of genetic disorders in their children.
It is a fact: parents' age increases the risk of various complications, both for the mother and the child. However, genetic tests are now accessible for couples, and from the 10th week of pregnancy, a non-invasive prenatal test can determine the risk of genetic diseases with 99% accuracy.
From the Editors
One important thing to keep in mind: understanding your child becomes easier when the age gap is less, say 25 years, not 45 years...
At least you'll connect better with your child when there's a smaller gap in age, helping you avoid becoming out of touch.
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Enrichment Data:
Overall:
The current ideal age range for starting a family, as advised by scientific research and sociological observations, is primarily between the mid-20s to mid-30s, with medical advancements extending safe childbearing years beyond this range.
Scientific and Medical Perspective:- Fertility peaks in women’s early 20s, which traditionally was considered the optimal biological period for childbearing. However, a study published in Review of Obstetrics & Gynecology found that pregnancy risks for women above 50, using donated eggs, are comparable to those in women in their 20s, suggesting that medical advancements, such as IVF, have extended safe childbearing age significantly.[1]- Despite biological fertility declining after the mid-30s, assisted reproductive technologies (ART) now enable women to conceive well into their 40s, fueling the rising birth rates among women aged 30-34 and even over 40.[4]
Sociological and Cultural Trends:- In a 2013 Gallup poll, the majority of Americans (58%) believed the ideal age for women to begin childbearing was 25 or younger. However, views vary significantly by education and age group, with more educated adults and those aged 30-49 favoring later childbearing (after 26).[1]- Recent trends show many people, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, are postponing parenthood until their 30s due to financial stability, education, and career considerations. This delay has resulted in an increase in births among women in their early 30s and late 20s, demonstrating a shift from earlier generations.[4][2]- The delay in childbirth is connected to a desire to achieve personal and financial readiness before starting a family, reflecting social and economic realities rather than pure biological optimality.[4]
Summary:- Biological optimality: Early to mid-20s is optimal biologically for female fertility.- Modern medical and social reality: Safe and increasingly common to have children from late 20s through the 30s, and even into 40s with medical assistance.- Public perception: Many still view mid-20s or younger as ideal, but educated and younger adults tend to favor later childbearing (after 26).- Practical recommendation: The best age to start a family balances biological factors with financial stability, emotional readiness, and social support, often placing most people in their late 20s to mid-30s as the current optimal range.
- According to Dr. Vladimir Zuev, head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sechenov University, the age range for an ideal first child, once considered 25, has risen significantly to be between 23 to 35 years old due to increased lifespan and maturity.
- Dr. Natalia Goncharenko, head of the Department of Obstetric Pathology of Pregnancy at the Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Sechenov Center for Mother and Child, explains that late childbearing presents challenges such as women experiencing more health issues, with pollutants, diet, lifestyle, and viruses being factors contributing to this issue.
- As Natalia Goncharenko points out, ages 40 and beyond may unmask underlying conditions, and pregnancy can bring dormant diseases to the surface during pregnancy, for example, triggering hypertension due to the increased load if a woman has minor vascular issues.
- The aftermath of childbirth can be trying, particularly for older individuals, as changes in physical, emotional, and mental states make caring for a newborn much harder for a 45+ individual compared to a 30-year-old.
- Even though parents' age increases the risk of various complications, including genetic disorders in their children, genetic tests are now accessible for couples, and from the 10th week of pregnancy, a non-invasive prenatal test can determine the risk of genetic diseases with 99% accuracy.
