Carolyn Robertson
posted in CelebritiesA new study reveals some stark statistics for women who are thinking about putting off starting a family until later in life.
Researchers at the Hospital Universitairo Quiron- Dexeus in Barcelona looked at the fertility rates of 4,000 women over a 12-year period and discovered that there was a "clinically relevant decline" after the age of 38. By the time a woman reaches 44 years old, they conclude, "the prognosis is really futile."
In fact, the numbers show that a woman who is 38 is 18 times more likely to be able to have a baby as one who is 6 years older.
In light of their findings, lead researcher Dr. Marta Devesa offers up this advice to hopeful moms-to-be: "Women should be encouraged to have families earlier but if you can't change society then we should encourage them to freeze their eggs by 35."
Charles Kingsland of Liverpool Women's Hospital acknowledges that the results of this study may come as a shock to many women: "I'm amazed at how many women say I'm going to have my career, relationship with the man of my dreams, buy a house then have a family - and I think no you cannot do that," he says. "Even the most well-informed women are ignorant and still just don't realise how much age affects fertility."
Some fertility specialists point to celebrities as being part of the problem.
Actress Halle Berry was 41 years old when she was pregnant with her first child, and 46 when she announced her second pregnancy. Gwen Stefani was 44 when her third son, Apollo, was born last year. Stylist Rachel Zoe was 42 when she had her second baby, Kaius.
Salma Hayek, who welcomed daughter Valentina at 41 years old, has insisted that it's "the best time" to have a baby, saying, "Because you’ve done so many other things in your life. You just get it out of your system, and you can really relax into being a mother."
More celebrities who've had babies after 40...
These are all happy stories, but are they giving other women false hope that they, too, can conceive well into their forties?
Adam Balen, chairman of the British Fertility Society, seems to think so.
"Whilst you hear lots of good news stories about celebrities who may have given birth at an older age, nobody knows the number of celebrities who may not have been able to have babies, either because of infertility or possibly even having had fertility treatment that has been unsuccessful," he says.
I have to admit that I'm somewhat surprised by these statistics. I'm inching toward 40 myself, but often assume that I could still have a third child if I wanted to. It's just a matter of making the decision to go for it, right? Of course, it might not be that easy.
As for the suggestion to freeze our eggs, amazing advancements have definitely been made, but we still seem far from the point where that is a viable option for the majority of women. After all, it's expensive - unless you happen to work for a company who will foot the bill, - it's invasive and there's no guarantee it will even work.
Perhaps celebrities are helping to fuel that assumption, too, though: Maria Menounos, Bridget Marquardt and Celine Dion are among the many famous ladies who've talked openly about freezing their eggs.
How old were you when you got pregnant?
Photos: PR Photos
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