Family planning and late motherhood in Brazil: high-risk pregnancy over 35 years

Abstract

Objective: to study the right to family planning of women over 35 years old when they exercise their reproductive rights. This can lead to high risks for women from this age segment and the fetus. Methods: study is based on a narrative and descriptive literature review and subsequent analysis of articles from journals, books, and collections in the field of health sciences and health law. The descriptors late motherhood, risks of late motherhood, late motherhood, and labor market were analyzed in an additional digital search of the following databases: Google Scholar, EBSCO, and Brazilian CAPES journals. Results: the female body is less prepared for pregnancy from the age of 35 years than that of women aged between 20 and 29 years, an age segment considered ideal for reproduction. Late motherhood, for whatever reason, puts women at higher risk for health problems during pregnancy and poses a higher risk to the child, both the unborn and the child after birth. Conclusion: a woman who chooses late motherhood must be properly informed by specialized physicians that such a pregnancy, whether artificial or natural, may pose serious problems for both her and her child.

Received: 11/08/22 | Accepted: 07/02/23