Choosing to Start Over: One Woman’s Journey to IVF and Parenthood at 48, Despite Health and Age Concerns

48-year-old Ms. Lan decided to undergo IVF at the Center for Reproductive Support, Tam Anh General Hospital, Hanoi (IVF Tam Anh) in order to have more children and combat loneliness since her daughter and granddaughter lived far away. Despite objections from concerned relatives about the father’s age and the child’s health, Ms. Lan was determined to have another child.

After three cycles of mild ovarian stimulation, only one egg was qualified for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to create a single embryo. Fortunately, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) did not detect any abnormalities in the embryo. However, Ms. Lan faced several challenges during pregnancy, including threatened miscarriage, high blood pressure, and gestational diabetes, which ultimately resulted in an emergency cesarean section delivery of a 2.5 kg baby girl.

The Director of IVF Tam Anh, Dr. Le Hoang, highlighted the increasing trend of middle-aged individuals seeking to have children. The center has seen a rise in women aged 40-50 seeking treatment, with 20% of patients falling in this age group. Dr. Hoang emphasized the risks associated with pregnancies at an older age, including higher rates of chromosomal disorders and complications.

Older women seeking to have children should be aware of these risks and carefully consider their options before pursuing IVF or pregnancy at an older age