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Modern women don't fully understand the risks of delaying childbirth
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Yale University scientists have concluded that modern women are not fully aware of the risks they are taking by postponing childbirth. Many women are convinced that doctors will help them get pregnant at almost any age.
As one of the authors of the study, Pasquale Patrizio, notes, women over 43 years of age are increasingly turning to doctors, hoping to conceive a child without problems – unsatisfactory results become a bitter disappointment for them.
Today, many women are in no hurry to have children, wanting to first complete their education, build a career, or find a suitable partner. Meanwhile, few of them think that with age, reproductive ability weakens, and even the most modern technologies may be powerless against age-related infertility.
According to US medical statistics, the number of cases of in vitro fertilization (IVF) increased from 2003 to 2009 by 9% among women under 35 and by 41% among patients over 40. At the same time, the share of successful IVF among women 42 years and older still amounts to only 9%. In addition, older pregnant women have an increased risk of various complications.
Patrizio believes that this unfortunate trend should be combated by actively disseminating information about reproductive health. In his opinion, doctors should promptly warn patients about the problems they may face if they decide to wait to have a child, and also tell them about the methods that provide the greatest guarantee of getting pregnant in the future.
Thus, Patrizio recommends that women consider freezing their eggs – this strategy is suitable for those who are not yet ready to have children, but want the genetic material of the future child to come from the mother. The chances of IVF success and the use of donor eggs significantly increase. “These are proven technologies and should not be considered experimental,” the scientist emphasizes.
A detailed report of the study's findings was published in the journal Fertility and Sterility.
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