Age and fertility: How old is too old?

Over the last 30 years, there has been a trend towards lower parity, older mothers, and a significant rise in the incidence of multiple pregnancies, both spontaneous and induced by assisted reproductive technologies (ART). These developments mean that women receive contradictory information on age-related effects on their ability to conceive. Primary healthcare professionals can play a key role in enabling women to make realistic and informed choices about the risks of deferring childbirth.