BMJ 2000;320:1681-1682 ( 24 June )

Editorials

The risks of having children in later life

Social advantage may make up for biological disadvantage

General practice p 1708

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

When is the best time in life to be a mother? Or a father? These questions have been raised in the past, but the answers have left uncertainties. To address some of these issues, Andersen et al, in their paper on maternal age and fetal loss in this issue of the BMJ, have used a large set of data from the Danish Epidemiology Science Centre to good effect (p 1708).¹ Their findings are largely confirmatory: older age strongly increases a woman's chances of at least three untoward outcomesnamely, stillbirth, miscarriage, and ectopic pregnancy. Prospective parents concerned about their age might hope for answers to other questions as well.

Over the past 50 years or so, options for controlling or enhancing fertility have grown. These changes began with the introduction of oral contraception and have continued with the legalisation of induced abortion and the development of ever more sophisticated techniques . . . [Full text of this article]

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This article has been cited by other articles:

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