In the controversy that erupted when the world found out that a 63 year old woman was on her seventh month pregnancy after using IVF to conceive. Although giving birth by women over 50 has increased 24 times over in the last few years, many doctors and laypersons protest, claiming that it is not safe for mother or baby.
The National Health Service currently refuses free IVF treatment to women over 39, forcing would-be mothers over that age to pay for private treatment. However, the HFEA figures reveal that doctors are not adhering to an “unofficial” guideline to refuse treatment to women over the age of 49. The guideline is intended to limit the potential health risks to mother and child.
Amid mounting concern that IVF is being used to extend fertility beyond the limits of what is ethically acceptable, a leading expert yesterday called on the HFEA, which currently allows clinicians to decide on eligibility for IVF, to set an age limit for those who want the treatment.
Also, there is an increased risk of deadly complications such as heart attacks and diabetes, but is this a reason for a woman to give up the dream of motherhood, even if it is ‘late’ in life? Don’t potential complications exist for every birth, regardless of age? (Childbirth is still one of the leading worldwide causes of women’s deaths.) What do you think? Does potential reward outweigh the potential risk?
The effect of diabetes on the severity of illness and risk of death for patients with heart failure is much worse in women than men, the effect being more pronounced in older women (over age 65). Diabetes was associated with a significant increase in the risk of death and hospitalization in patients with heart failure. Women over age 65 had worse outcomes than men or younger women.
That’s what the new research at University of Alabama at Birmingham (led by Ali Ahmed, M.D., MPH, associate professor in the division of gerontology, geriatrics and palliative care and director of UAB’s Geriatric Heart Failure Clinic and Geriatric Heart Failure Research) is telling us: “Our results suggest that heart failure patients should be thoroughly evaluated for the presence of diabetes and if it is present, should be intensively managed based on published guidelines. Further studies should test current interventions and develop new ones to reduce the adverse effects of diabetes in heart failure patients in general, and among older adults in particular.”
Another one is that the death rate of men with diabetes has dropped significantly (in line with the overall decline of the death rate for all Americans), while the death rate for women with diabetes did not decline at all.
Posts Tagged ‘Giving’
Should Diabetes Risk Keep Older Women From Giving Birth?
Friday, March 12th, 2010Cancer.ext.com – Giving Cancer a Face
Sunday, February 28th, 2010Cancer is a faceless monster that frightens patients, tears away life control, and ruins oneâs basic quality of life. Cancer.ext.com was designed to help patients learn about cancer, take a hold of life once more, and fight back armed with many valuable resources. Beating cancer is not impossible with the help of Cancer.ext.comâs clearly marked road map.
Cancer.ext.com believes that through cancer education comes many different types of inner peace. Peace of mind can be achieved through understanding the basic fundamentals of the disease itself. Peace of soul can be gained through learning about possible treatment options. Peace and calm can settle in once all anxieties have been pushed aside. The more that you know about cancer, the better equipped you will be when it comes time to fight. We can also help to increase your quality of life.
How important is quality of life? A recent study conducted by researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center found that quality of life was the most vital element when it comes to cancer survival. Those cancer patients that took part in this study cited quality of life as the number one motivating factor for beating cancer. Not only does quality of life matter concerning day to day tasks, it also matters when it comes to tough treatments. Cancer.ext.com can help you find support networks in your area that will alter your life perspective by putting you in control of your disease.
Fighting cancer without having complete power over the disease itself is a lot like fighting Goliath without that essential slingshot. Unfortunately, losing control is easy to do when youâre constantly battling an unforeseen force. Cancer.ext.com will not only put you on an easy to follow 15-step pathway towards total controlâ¦weâll hand you the largest virtual slingshot that can be found by showing you how to make plans and take action against cancer.
Numerous studies and statistics show that cancer patients need a positive support network; an increased quality of life; and improved knowledge regarding in order to effectively fight cancer. Cancer.ext.com serves as a place for patients, advocates, and volunteers to share ideas, network, and devise a way to beat this disease. Learn, share, and discover the many different ways to battle cancer by visiting Cancer.ext.com. With the help of Cancer.ext.com (and its partners), cancer will finally have a clearly defined face that is recognizable, beatable, and controllable.