Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporter
ANDREA*, 35 YEARS OLD, constantly dwells on the subject of having children. She is a single professional, childless and strongly believes that she should have a child, although because of her age, the child will more than likely be hyperactive or schizophrenic if she puts pregnancy off longer. So to avoid that possibility, Andrea says she will adopt.
Many women in Jamaica, like Andrea, think that children born to women who are 40 and older will have some form of mental or physical disorder.
Dr. Maureen Samms-Vaughan, developmental behavioural paediatrician at the University Hospital of the West Indies says that these statements are not factual.
DOWN'S SYNDROME
What research has found to be true, states Dr. Samms-Vaughan, are that children with Down's syndrome are more likely to be born to older women. In addition, autistic children are more likely to be born to women of older maternal age. "That's just an association that has been found," says Dr. Samms-Vaughan. This research, she says, has been proven in Jamaica and world-wide. She emphasises however that this research does not conclude that every older woman's child will be born with these developmental disorders.
Although a man's sperm doesn't get very old a woman's eggs will degenerate. Generally, in older women the eggs are not generating at the same rate as in their 20s. "It's the same thing like your eyes, ears or feet," says Dr. Samms-Vaughan.
However, pregnant mature women can detect abnormalities before birth by doing a chromosome test. This chromosome abnormality testing is done during the early stage of pregnancy by examining the amniotic fluid. "The test however cannot pick up autism as it is not a chromosome abnormality," says Dr. Samms-Vaughan.
* Names changed by request.
