The age limit for pursuing IVF treatments will be removed in Singapore from January 1, 2020, as part of Government measures to support parenthood and marriage, CNA reports.
Getting pregnant through in-vitro fertilisation treatments is now deemed safe for older women due to the better management of possible age-related complications for mums and babies.
These advancements in healthcare don't mean that women above the 45-year age range can conceive, however. The age limit imposed was previously due to medical conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure being more prevalent in older women.
Advances in the treatment of these conditions have led to positive results even in complex pregnancies, according to CNA.
Reducing the potential risks for the mother and the baby will still be discussed before starting treatment.
Despite the change in regulations, doctors warned that the chances of conceiving through IVF remain low for women above 45. The chances of conceiving are close to 40 percent for women below the age of 35.
News of elderly women becoming pregnant can often lead to false hope for potential mums, who put their faith totally in having a baby through IVF.
A woman's number and quality of eggs decrease with age, and conceiving through IVF after the age of 50 is possibly unrealistic for many women.
Doctors are encouraging couples to start trying for a baby as young as possible.
The vast majority of patients in their forties who to carry a child to full-term will have a relatively uncomplicated pregnancy, if they have access to good medical care.
It remains important that women understand the risks and chances of pregnancy at a certain age so that they can make an informed decision about treatments.
