The delay of motherhood: Reasons, determinants, time used to achieve pregnancy, and maternal anxiety level

Abstract

BackgroundFertility in recent decades in European countries such as Norway, Spain or United Kingdom has declined, while in others such as Portugal, it has remained relatively constant, and in others such as Germany fertility rated have risen. The determinants of this change in reproductive pattern can be explained by the cultural, social, and economic changes that took place in our society. Objective: to identify the principal reasons and independent determinants associated with the postponement of motherhood and document any association between the time taken to achieve successful pregnancy and maternal age, as well as the level of anxiety of these women.MethodsAn observational study, including 326 women, was conducted in Spain with primiparous women, in which data was collected on sociodemographic, health, and pregnancy-related factors. Comparison of means (t-test or analysis of variance) and the analysis of covariance was used to estimate adjusted means for potential confounders.ResultsWomen in stable relationships became mothers at older ages (31.83±0.29) than those who were not (28.75±0.78) (p<0.001). Women who delayed motherhood for medical reasons had a mean age of 34.15 ± 0.88 years, compared to a mean of 30.52±0.36 years for personal reasons, and 27.51±1.39 years for other reasons. Mothers with an older age had a higher level of anxiety (p<0.05). The average time required to achieve pregnancy increased as maternal age increased, with an average time of 24 months for women with a mean age of 35.23±0.71 years compared to <3 months for women with a mean age of 29.44±0.39 years. Women ≥ 35 years were more likely to need medical assistance to achieve pregnancy (aOR = 12.07, 95% CI: 1.50–97.05; p = 0.019).ConclusionsMedical reasons were among those cited for delaying motherhood. The postponement of motherhood was associated with difficulty to achieve a successful pregnancy and a higher level of anxiety.

Reproductive changes among women in their 40s: A cross‐sectional study

“…In particular, long‐acting reversible contraceptives use has decreased the risk of unplanned pregnancies 4,5 . There are also women in their late 30s and 40s underestimating their fertility, resulting in unplanned pregnancies among those who are not using any contraception or who are using less effective contraceptive methods 1 …”

Barriers and factors associated with significant delays to initial consultation and treatment for infertile patients and partners of infertile patients

“…Infertility is defined as the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after at least 12 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse (Zegers-Hochschild et al, 2009). This condition is becoming increasingly common, likely in part due to the modern trend to pursue educational goals and economic stability prior to starting a family, therefore delaying pregnancy until older age (Molina- García et al, 2019) Current literature has suggested that parenthood is considered to be central to the life plan of most adults (Boivin et al, 2018). Both men and women can feel an intense and profound desire for parenthood, indicating an emotional engagement acting as a driving force for patients to seek treatment for infertility (Hadley and Hanley, 2011;Langher et al, 2019).…”

Age‐related differences in the translational landscape of mammalian oocytes

“…Chromosomal aneuploidy in human oocytes is not a rare event, exemplified by a 20% incidence in 32‐year‐old women that further increases with age, reaching 60%–80% in women aged 42 (Capalbo, Hoffmann, Cimadomo, Maria Ubaldi, & Rienzi, 2017; Jones & Lane, 2013; Kuliev, Zlatopolsky, Kirillova, Spivakova, & Cieslak Janzen, 2011). This so called “age‐related aneuploidy” in oocytes has long been a focus in the study of human reproduction, as women in economically advanced societies are trending to delay their pregnancies (Molina‐García et al, 2019). However, we are still far from fully understanding the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon.…”