Obstetric complications and advanced maternal age

Advanced maternal age is directly proportional to the risk of obstetric and non -obstetric complications during gestation, both for the pregnant woman and the fetus. This is particularly important because the fertility rates of older women have increased. In the US, 10% of first births and 20% of all births occur to women 35 years of age or older. Historically, advanced maternal age has been defined as an age greater than or equal to 35 years, a cutoff point that is supported by declining fertility and the increased risk of genetic abnormalities in the offspring of women older than this age. However, the effects related to increasing age are continuous and the risk is greater the older the age at conception rather than as an effect of passing the 35 years threshold. Research has shown that older pregnant women are at increased risk of early pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, chromosomal abnormalities and congenital malformations, as well as, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, placental pathology, preterm delivery, low birth weight, perinatal mortality, multiple pregnancy, dystocic delivery, cesarean delivery and maternal mortality. This article reviews recent publications on the subject and includes statistics from a major hospital in Lima, Peru, and from the National Demographic and Family Health Survey -ENDES, 2022.