The age limit for egg cell donation must be increased. Women should be eligible for fertility treatment by egg cell donation up to the age of fifty years. This opinion, held by the three gynaecologists, Kortman, Fauser, and Macklon from the University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht, was published in the Dutch Journal of Medicine (NGTV) this week.
Since 1997, the maximum age for egg cell donation treatment in the Netherlands has been 45 years. This age limit was established mainly because of a lack of clarity concerning health risks during pregancy in older women. Morevoer, up till now, concerns for the psycho-social well-being of the child have been one of the most important reasons for being against motherhood at an older age.
There is now more knowledge available through the literature and from abroad on pregnancies resulting from egg donation in older women. The three gynaecologists argue in favor of further extending the age limit for women. They do not consider medical objections to be an issue in pregnancy resulting from this fertility treatment in older women. The womb is in fact receptive to the implantation of embyros up to a very mature age. Therefore, there is no foundation for the opinion that older women cannot be good mothers.
For more information please contact: University Medical Center Utrecht, department of internal and external communication, Annette Aarts and Linda Minnen, tel. 088 75 574 83.