Postmenopausal motherhood and IVF: the ethical challenge

Abstract

In the recent decades, women have rapidly involved in career development. Thus, the average age they seek pregnancy to be well over 40years. In light of the inverse relationship between fertility and age, a significant number of these women seekin-vitrofertilisation (IVF) to achieve pregnancy. The concept of IVF has established that postmenopausal women can get pregnant and give birth to children. However, seen as a variant reproductive norm. The practice has triggered concerns and criticisms about pressure on the limited donated oocytes and the various clinical challenges associated with postmenopausal motherhood and their offspring’s. Also, failure to have children at the appropriate time isseen as anact of selfishness. Arguably, most of the concerns are not peculiar to postmenopausal women. In the context of reproductive rights, this could be seen as anact of discrimination because the postmenopausal woman has the right to personal discretion.Keywords: Postmenopausal, IVF, ethics