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older_mothers_wb3.sName = "older_mothers_wb3";
older_mothers_wb3.ID = "older_mothers_wb3";
older_mothers_wb3.ID_WB = 3629679;
older_mothers_wb3.sPubDate = "12/10/2003 5:45:29 PM GMT";
older_mothers_wb3.mainsectionID = "HEALTH"
older_mothers_wb3.navsectionID = "HEALTH"
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older_mothers_wb3.appHeader = "FACT FILE|Later age pregnancy";
older_mothers_wb3.appFooter = "Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Mayo Foundation, Associated Press, Center for Disease Control";
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older_mothers_wb3[i++] = new Array("","Fertility","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
older_mothers_wb3[i-1].body = "A third of women will not be able to conceive by age 40. Medical researchers believe that the age of eggs is a factor. Egg production is not a life-long process. Rather, women are born with all of their eggs and the more fertile eggs, according to studies, respond to impregnation earlier in life.
In addition, older women have a greater likelihood of contracting a reproductive-related complication such as endometriosis, a malady where tissue attaches itself to the ovaries or fallopian tubes, hampering conception.";
older_mothers_wb3[i++] = new Array("","Birth defects","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
older_mothers_wb3[i-1].body = "Maternal age plays a factor in birth defects, particularly those involving chromosomal complications like Down syndrome.
Birth defect risks associated with mother's age
Age
Down syndrome
Other abnormalities
20
1 in 1,667
1 in 526
35
1 in 378
1 in 192
40
1 in 106
1 in 66
45
1 in 30
1 in 21
";
older_mothers_wb3[i++] = new Array("","Detecting defects","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
older_mothers_wb3[i-1].body = "Pregnant women 35 or older often choose prenatal testing to detect any chromosomal abnormalities
Amniocentesis - Performed between week 14 and 18. A needle is inserted through the abdominal wall and into the amniotic sac surrounding the fetus. Fluid, which contains fetus cells, is withdrawn and sent to the lab, where the cells are tested for chromosomal abnormality.
Chorionic villus sampling - Performed between week 9 and 12. A small needle or tube is passed through the cervix or the abdominal wall, extracting a small piece of the placenta used for chromosomal studies.";
older_mothers_wb3[i++] = new Array("","Difficult pregnancy","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
older_mothers_wb3[i-1].body = "Because diabetes and high blood pressure are more common in women as they age, complications during pregnancy are encountered with increased frequency in pregnant women in their late 30s and 40s. Diabetic mothers are at greater risk for preterm delivery and placental problems.
In addition, several bleeding complications of pregnancy -- abruptio placentae and placenta previa -- are also more frequent among older women.";
older_mothers_wb3[i++] = new Array("","Mortality","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
older_mothers_wb3[i-1].body = "Recent studies indicate that older pregnant women without chronic medical disorders do not face an increase risk of fatal complications. But because older women are more susceptible to chronic medical disorders, numbers on the whole point to an increased maternal mortality rate.