Now, aged 59 Mrs. Tollefsen has decided that she would like to undergo IVF treatment again. Her first child was conceived following treatment received in Moscow, after she was refused treatment in the UK on the grounds of her age. Yet two years after this rejection, doctors at the private London Women’s Clinic have now agreed to help her conceive. Mrs. Tollefsen describes herself as full of life and healthy, and sees no reason why she should not receive this treatment again.  Many of us have an instinctive negative reaction to the thought of a woman in her 50s or older, becoming a mother.  If women were meant to bear children at that age, surely their bodies would be able to do so naturally and without the complications indicative of pregnancy at a later age?  So, are older mothers selfish, career women, who turn to the idea of motherhood at retirement age, or simply caring, nurturing individuals, that yearn for a level of fulfilment that only motherhood can offer? 

That technological advances mean that women are now able to have children later cannot be disputed; though does this mean that it should be encouraged?  While people are living longer, the average age of the menopause has not altered to match this; the human body slows down with time. It could therefore be argued, that a longer life simply extends our period of old age.

Looking after a child is a very difficult job which requires the energy to keep up with a baby and maintain that level of energy in the face of stress and sleepless nights.  It is true that this is a problem which all new parents face, but it can certainly be argued that the younger the parent, the better their resilience to this. An older parent (especially a single parent) may not have the same support network as a younger parent – they will probably not have parents nearby for example. However, for the many women in this position, that have pursued a career in their younger years, the decision to become a mother will mean that they can afford greater attention to the child, without the worry of work, money or security.

The most important question to answer is whether having an older mother will have a negative effect on the child. There is evidence that children born through IVF are twice as likely to have birth defects as children conceived naturally – of course not all IVF patients will be older mothers – yet add to this, the fact that children born with older mothers are more likely to suffer from autism or complications at birth and it is clear that there are greater risks involved when an older woman conceives through IVF. We must also consider the traumatic effect of the mother dying - an increased possibility at a greater age – particularly if the child is still young and less equipped to handle and understand grief. Maria del Carmen Bousada, a single woman who had twins through IVF at the age of 66 after lying about her age, died last July when the twins were just three years old. 

Furthermore, an older mother may have difficulty connecting to a child – especially in the difficult teenage years.  It is not possible to say that an older mother will be more or less capable of loving a child – this simply is not the case, however, it may be more difficult for an older mother and their child to speak candidly about issues which affect teenagers.  Can a 74 year old realistically counsel a 15 year old about sex, drugs or anything else? 

A lot depends on the personality of the woman in question and the relationship which they foster with their child.  Some young mothers may face all of the problems regarding speaking candidly on various issues, while some older mothers will have no problem at all.  However, speaking in generalities, as we have to, these problems and health risks are greater with an older mother.  

Following the clinic’s decision to treat Mrs. Tollefsen, there have been calls for upper age limit guidelines for fertility treatment to be enshrined in law. Government guidelines say the NHS should not recommend IVF to women over the age of 40 and private clinics generally will not treat women older than 50 because of health concerns, the reduced chances of success and fears for the upbringing of children with old mothers.  Currently, there is no legal age limit, although legislation does specify that the welfare of the child has to be taken into account, including the need of that child for supportive parenting. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is responsible for regulating IVF treatment and can revoke a clinic’s licence if it is thought to have acted irresponsibly.  To date no clinic has lost its licence for treating older women, but there is also no requirement for clinics to inform the HFEA if they are treating an older woman. 

Clearly, it is in the public interest to offer as much advice to older mothers-to-be about the risks involved in starting a family later in life; more detailed guidelines are a must, as is the requirement of increased reporting to the HFEA. The questions surrounding an imposed legal age limit however, are plentiful. Susan Tollefsen herself admits that there should be a cut-off point (in her opinion 65), but thinks that it should be looked at on a case by case basis.  A balance must be struck between protecting the interests of the child without limiting the freedoms of the individual. As medical advancements in this area continue, such a dilemma will only become more pressing…