The primary school teacher, Annegret R is 65 years old and pregnant. How is that even possible?
In a natural way, the 13 times mother would have been able to receive another Baby. In Central Europe, women have, on average, with 52 years of your last ovulation, after which ova Mature more. For this reason, Annegret R. was not dependent in your desire to have children only to artificial insemination, but also on the eggs of another woman.
These were fertilized with donated sperm and R. Annegret inserted into the uterus. In order to increase the chances of getting a pregnancy, took the Doctors several fertilized ova. Contrary to expectations, four of the Embryos did not develop further, currently living would be outside of the uterus is still functional. Annegret R., accompanied by RTL on your way, is currently in the 21st century. Week of pregnancy.
A donation in the case of a 65-Year-old is allowed a little in Germany?
No, it is not. Egg donation is prohibited in Germany since 1991, regardless of the age of the patient and the cause of the unfulfilled desire to have children. The legal basis for this can be found in the embryo protection act. In many other countries, egg donation is tolerated, so that women can also get its own ova children.
Annegret R. travelled for treatment abroad and this is no exception. Punishable is not in order. The German law recognizes the woman as the mother who brings the child to the world. The European society for reproduction and embryology (ESHRE) assumes that, annually, a “significant” number of women travelling abroad in order to fulfill the desire to have children. A survey of ESHRE in 2010, showed that German women are looking for especially in the Czech Republic help. Almost every Second one had a failed treatment in Germany.
Your age is R. Annegret nevertheless, the exception to the rule. In the survey of the ESHRE, the German women seeking in foreign aid were, on average, 39 years old. The youngest was 23, the oldest 49.
Why is a pregnancy beyond Menopause a problem?
Because the cardiovascular System and the whole organism, with age, become weaker and the Hormone changes that altered the reproductive organs strong. The uterus is a hormone-dependent muscle in the front of the Menopause the mucosa to the implantation of the fertilized egg, builds up and the mucous membrane is repelled, if no pregnancy occurs. After Menopause, the hormone concentrations and the uterus muscle change.
What are the specific risks for the 65-Year-old?
In the case of Annegret R. the same three risks come together: it is not only 65 years old, the Single parent had to also Oocyte and sperm donation, and she is with four of a kind, pregnant. “All three conditions are high risk factors for a pregnancy,” says Frank Louwen, Secretary of the German society for gynecology and obstetrics. “You bring all of the risk of hypertension, gestational diabetes and preeclampsia (high blood pressure, and excretion of protein in the urine, note. d. Red.) and potentiate each other.”
His medical colleagues have abroad, such a pregnancy at all, stunning him, says Louwen. “A four of a kind to bring about pregnancy, is from our present point of view, a mistake, because it brings great risks for the mother and the foetus”, according to the head of the obstetrics and prenatal medicine at the Frankfurt University clinic. “But if a 65-Year-old after egg donation with four of a kind pregnant, then this is a feasibility delusion that makes me concerned.”
In Germany, to be used after In-vitro fertilisations (“test tube fertilisation”) usually only one to two fertilized ova. After the age of 35. Years of age may be transferred according to the embryo protection act, a maximum of three embryos into the uterine cavity.
What this means for unborn babies?
For the fetuses, and an under-supply and the shortened pregnancy duration are the crucial problems: In a study of 38 triple – and four Quadruplet pregnancies all children were born prematurely to the world, on average, in 33. Week of pregnancy. Often the contractions are too early, the strong stretching of the uterine wall can be also the cause of a premature rupture of the membranes, or a shortened cervix. “Quadruplets by caesarean section in the world,” says Frank Louwen.
Babies come too early to the world, they are still immature and underweight. Usually they have to be because of the so-called adjustment disorders treated in intensive care units: they have a decreased respiratory drive, are often too weak to Drink and must be fed through a nasal tube. To also keep the own body temperature, manages them, and they are due to the immature immune system are particularly susceptible to infections. Due to brain bleeding, retinal diseases or other not-yet-fully-functional organs may be irrevocably damaged.
What are the risks at birth?
The babies reached a viable age, you need to by caesarean section to be brought to the world. For the mother this means a higher risk for bleeding, thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or wound healing disorders.
A woman with 65 years ago, Annegret R ever been pregnant?
If all goes well, is one of Annegret R. at 65 years of age in fact, one of the oldest mothers in the world. The old record book of the records, according to Guinness, the Spaniard Carmela Bousada. You brought in December 2006 twins to the world, at the age of 66 years and 358 days. Also Bousada had to rely on artificial insemination.
Because the Doctors refused to in Spain, to their treatment, she sought help in the United States and was there as a 55-Year-old. Long Bousada couldn’t stand her children: she died in July 2009 to cancer, yet prior to the third birthday of the twins.
A record would be set up Annegret R. at birth, however, in Front of her has probably brought in, no woman in the old quadruplets to the world.
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About The Author
Jeannette CorbeauIrene Berres, studied science journalist, has focused on issues around the body specialized. She is an editor in the Department of science and health at SPIEGEL ONLINE.
About The Author
Heike Le Ker is a Doctor, has in neurology and worked for the birth of stress in children PhD. She is head of the Department of science/health in MIRRORS ONLINE.