Okay, so I got back from college one afternoon last week and I was really tired so I flopped in front of the TV. A talk show was on (Jeremy Kyle for anyone interested or knows British TV) and it was discussing fertility treatment, which got me thinking about age restrictions.

There was one woman who didn't settle down until she was in her forties because she focussed on taking care of her ill parents and on her career. By the time she did settle down and want children she went to get IVF and they turned her away saying that she was too old. So she had to save up 10K and travel to Sweeden so she could get IVF. They did it no problem and now she's in her fifties and has a three year old daughter. There was a lot of controversy that came with that story and many people believed that yes, she was too old to look after a child and shouldn't have had one.

I on the other hand completely disagree. Just because you're older than most other parents doesn't mean you will do any less of a job and it doesn't mean that you're going to up and die of a heart attack or the likes by the time your child is five.

I don't think that there should be a maximum age for fertility treatment (the same goes for adoption) but I -do- think there should be a minimum age. Teenagers shouldn't have constant desires for children, so they shouldn't be able to have access to fertility treatment.

What are your views on the subject?

On one hand I agree on another I disagree. A 50 year old woman, wanting a child, okay I can handle that. (EXAMPLE) An 80 year old, I would have a few issues with. Mainly because by the time they're 20 you'll be 100 if you even live that long, some do some dont, and there is a point where it is unfair to ask a 15 year old to take care of their 95 year old parents that are in a home.

^Thats totally just an example to state my point. At 50, I can't see a problem with fertility treatments, but there is a point where an age restriction should be in place, just because some things are unfair to ask of the child as their parent gets older. It doesn't mean they'd be bad parents, just nature does eventually say "enough is enough" and you have to be prepared for that.


I definitely agree with the minimum! I just shudder when I see 14 year old girls wanting to be mothers! I cry channel flipping and seeing 16 and pregnant. I can only think, "wow you know nothing about life and your giving life to something else! WTF". I understand it's usually their choice, but still. I just don't understand the mindset.

I may be a little shaded though when it comes to this. As a 20 year old with no desire to ever have biological kids, teenage pregnancy confuses me.

-A little off Topic- but another thing that confuses me, is when dr.s refuse to take preventative measures against pregnancy (ie: tube tying) for anyone under 30 (unless for medical reasons), because they think you'll change your mind. I've never wanted kids, so why can't you just tie the damn tubes so I can't get pregnant -.-
-End Rant- Sorry ^.^'

I don't understand why some doctors are reluctant to offer birth control. I wouldn't want anything as severe as tube tying, because knowing me I would probably change my mind. But last August I went to the hospital to get something checked out and I asked if I could get the implant in so that I wouldn't have to worry about contraception or pregnancy scares (because this was when I was still with my ex) and the doctor refused to give it to me. So we had to use just condoms on its own, which is hardly a fool-proof method of contraception. I swear they -want- a load of pregnancies.

I think that as long as someone is able to take care of a child they should be able to have a child. There's plenty of awful parents that are younger that should not have kids that "accidentally" have kids naturally. I also think that it's kind of harsh to know that as a mother you won't be around to watch your child grow up if you want kids too old so that needs to be taken into account as well.

I think there should be age restrictions, but such that the parents will most likely live long enough to look after the child(ren) until they're old enough to look after themselves. Plus I also agree with the minimum age.

I think that if someone wants to have a child and can take of that child, it's perfectly fine.

I do think they shouldn't allow children to get fertility treatments on the one hand, without parent's consent. (I would say at all, but I'm sure there are conditions that require lifelong treatments so that they won't grow up to be infertile)

I understand that people want children and the urge for a biological child, but I think that there should be some discussion on how old is too old to have a biological child. Past certain ages, there are more risks for both the mother and the child and the older a woman is past the age that these problems begin to occur, the more likely that the woman will miscarry, have a premature baby and many other risk factors.

My opinion on the manner is that a woman past the age of forty who wants to have a child (especially as a first time mother) should have a discussion with her doctor about it to make sure that she is healthy enough to have a baby. If her doctor does not think she is healthy enough to carry a baby, she should consider other options such as a surrogate mother or adoption.

Basically, I believe there should not be a maximum age for parenthood, but discretion on childbirth itself.

I have some limited experience with this, as my mother was almost 40 by the time she had me due to infertility issues. My parents are thus older than almost all other parents that I know. My mom will be 60 next year, and I will be 21.

I will likely lose my parents long before any of my friends do, and it's a scary prospect, but I don't regret them being older. But, having grown up with this fear, and knowing that I will lose my parents early, I have come to the conclusion that there should be age limits on fertility treatments, and that there should be some both ways. I would love to be lenient and say "don't allow them after the age of 60," but I don't believe that. I think the restriction needs to be 55 years old, and 20 or 21 years old on the opposite end.

I have taken enough psychology classes in my life to know that a child who grows up without parents, or having lost parents, is not generally set up for the best path in life. A child should also not have to worry about losing their parents the second they graduate college. In this crazy world, we need to stop creating more opportunities for maladjusted children to be put forth into the world when there really is no need.

Whether or not you believe in God, I think there are some things that humanity should not play God in, and making women who are well into menopause fertile is one of those things.

Health risks aside, it turns out that many of these women regret it.

I don't know if age should be the limiting factor for IVF, but I do know that there's plenty of children with no parents. Just because you can't squeeze out a baby naturally doesn't mean you can't be a parent. :)

. . . What?

She wasn't THAT old. o_O If she wanted to have a kid, she should be allowed to without any questions asked. If she was in her 60s - 70s, I could see the issue. But she settled down when she was in her 40s.

Menopause starts as early as 45 years of age (being the point at which she would no longer be able to have children without medical intervention, assuming she didn't need it before menopause).

So, yeah, 40's is THAT old, speaking from a reproductive standpoint.

No, I do not think there should be a limit. Whoo, that was one of my shortest responses. Yay!

Yes I definitely think there should. If menopause starts at the age of 45, don't you think there might be a reason for that? Just because a child is legally an adult by the time they turn 18 doesn't mean they are ready to be kicked out of the nest and never see their parents again or have that support. So you have to take in account for more than just "Well she could make it another twenty years!" Then there is also the fact that a parent that old isn't going to be able to understand or relate to the child as well as a younger parent could. Not that I think THAT is a solid reason for saying no but I did want to bring it up. It will make it slightly harder. But you also have to worry about the health risks, for the woman AND the baby. It's just not safe no matter how you look at it. It's a constant stream of doctors visits, more so that usual, and hoping that nothing cropped up that is fatal and everything is still working even though it shouldn't be at that age.
On the other hand, being a mother myself I couldn't imagine if someone told me no at whatever age I am. If a woman feels that strongly then she will make it work. However since it is such an emotional topic for some she might not be thinking about twenty years down the line. My mother for instance got dementia at the age of 45. She never would have been able to take care of me in that state and I would have gone god only knows where. You can't always predict the medical issues you are going to have or when they re going to happen, but you can pretty much bet that they WILL happen.

My periods have stopped since my doctor took me off the pill, and I'm only 40. So I'm basically infertile.

This isn't just about the right age to give birth. It's about being too old to be able to look after your child properly as it's growing up, and potentially dying while they are still a child. A lot of people develop all kinds of health issues in the second half of their lives, if their kids are adults by then and looking after themselves,it's unpleasant for them, but it's not such an issue.

But if a child is still a child...big problems can arise. It's not like grandparents can step in, as they are going to be in their 80s, or dead already. even if the parents are healthy for their age, bringing up children is mentally and physically exhausting for older parents, as they don't have the stamina of their younger selves any more. They can't do the things that younger parents can as they're just not physically able to any more.

I was adopted (my mother sought IVT, I believe but opted not to because she worked full time) by my parents when they were in their 40s (my dad was in his 50s, actually).
They died before I turned 15 years old (dad passed away when i was 12--cancer, mom passed away when i was 14--cancer).

I don't think people should DENY them the right to have a family, but older couples should be counseled about the risks of leaving their children behind due to unforeseen circumstances. My parents were unprepared, and only barely managed to haphazard a plan together. A plan, which was a disaster, I might add.
My older half brother took my sister and I in, but he was completely unprepared and me and my sisters ended up suffering through years of abuse and neglect because of him and his unpreparedness.

Once a woman is in her 40s, there is more of a risk to the child.

That being said, I know plenty of perfectly healthy people who are my age (18) and have parents in their 60s.

I feel like there should be a limit, but it should be around 55. At that point, the parent will be in their seventies by the time the kid graduates high school, and it's not uncommon for people to be unable to care of themselves at that age. Of course, there are also people who are 90 and healthier than the general population, but still.

My parents were 30 and 34 when I was born, and I realize I'm probably going to lose them before my friends who were born when their parents were in their early twenties. That's a little scary to me, but I can't imagine how I would feel if they were in their late sixties or even their seventies right now. As an eighteen year old, I don't think I'd be ready to take on the world without parents.

This is a touchy subject. I mean, you can't really deny someone the right to have children or procreate or anything like that, but you also can't deny a child the rights to have parents who are capable of caring for them.

I agree because nature says they can and what you said. There no way for a 60 year old to have kids. When you get mid age your body will go through menopause and after that you can't have kids because you won't ovulate. I have watch a t. Series wher an old lady got pregnant. But that situation is rare.