Some women unaware of risks of delaying motherhood

NEW YORK (Reuters Health, November 20, 2008) - Many women may not be fully aware of the potential consequences of waiting until later in life to have a baby, a UK study suggests.

The study, of 724 women who were either pregnant or having trouble getting pregnant, found that nearly all were aware that age affects the chances of conceiving. However, they often did not know that older age increases the risk of certain pregnancy complications, and many had too much faith in the success of in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

The decision to delay childbirth is a complex and personal one, the researchers note in a report in the journal Fertility & Sterility.

The point, they say, is that women should be fully aware of all the possible benefits and risks of their decision.

"The results of this and other studies suggest that women should be provided with the appropriate information on the possible outcomes of a decision to delay motherhood," write Dr. Abha Maheshwari...Read the entire article: Fertility & Sterility, October 2008