When Susan Tollefsen, 61, became one of Britain’s oldest first-time mothers by using IVF at age 57, she was widely criticised.

When Susan Tollefsen, 61, became one of Britain’s oldest first-time mothers by using IVF at age 57, she was widely criticised. At the time, Mrs Tollefsen defended herself by saying her partner Nick Mayer was 11 years younger – and that he would care for their daughter Freya throughout her childhood. However, they have now split up, according to the Sunday Mail. She now admits some of her critics were right – after experiencing all the challenges of raising a three-year-old daughter on her own at age 61.

In hindsight, she agrees that there should be an age limit of 50 for IVF treatment in Britain. She said:

“Freya is without doubt the best thing I have ever done in my life, and I have no regrets. But with the benefit of hindsight I recognise that perhaps some of my critics were right. I get a great emotional feeling when I look at her and a sadness when I realise time’s running out. If I could change just one thing I would wish to be younger so I could enjoy watching Freya grow up, get married and have children of her own. I’m doing my best to raise her to be completely independent but the prospect of her being taken from me, if I die, particularly when she’s still young, breaks my heart.”

Mrs Tollefsen conceived Freya with a donor egg and her partner’s sperm at a Russian clinic in 2008. In early 2010 a British clinic offered her fertility treatment when she and Mr Mayer tried to have a second child – making her the oldest person ever to receive such an offer. Government guidelines recommend doctors do not offer IVF to women over 40 on the National Health Service, and private clinics generally refuse to treat women over 50. She defended what she saw as her right to have another child despite her age and health problems – including being deaf in one ear and having a replaced knee. ~ Daily Mail, Nov 6

61-year-old IVF mum admits age limit should be 50
Jared Yee
IVF
UK

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