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Family Health: Should There Be an Age Limit on IVF Treatments?
November 8th, 2011
Photography by Nina Matthews, via Flickr (CC)
When Britain’s Susan Tollefsen became a mother for the first time, she was 57 years old. She conceived her daughter, Freya, with help from IVF treatments at a clinic in Russia. At the time, she had a supportive partner, Nick Mayer, who was 46. Now 61, Tollefsen is raising 3-year-old Freya on her own, and recently admitted to the UK’s Daily Mail that undergoing IVF treatments at such an advanced age may not have been the best decision.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Tollefsen said, “Freya is without doubt the best thing I have ever done in my life, and I have no regrets. But with the benefit of hindsight I recognise that perhaps some of my critics were right.” She went on to say that, “I get a great emotional feeling when I look at her and a sadness when I realise time’s running out. If I could change just one thing I would wish to be younger so I could enjoy watching Freya grow up, get married and have children of her own.”
Unfortunately for Tollefsen, and for baby Freya, there is no magic wand that can turn back time, or stop the aging process. And in light of Tollefsen herself expressing second thoughts about her decision to go through the IVF process at 57, we have to wonder—should there be an age limit on IVF treatments? What do you think?
Copyright © 2012 St. Joseph Media. All Rights Reserved.