EMAS position statement: Late parenthood.
BACKGROUND
During the last decades, couples in Europe have been delaying parenthood, mainly due to socio-demographic factors that include increased rates of university education and employment in women and poorer financial status.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this position statement is to provide and critically appraise evidence on the impact of late parenthood, focusing on the pathophysiology and management of male and female infertility, pregnancy complications and long-term offspring health.


METHODS
Literature review and consensus of expert opinion.


CONCLUSIONS
Advanced parental age is associated with infertility and pregnancy complications and may have an impact on long-term offspring health. All adults of reproductive age should receive counseling on the risks of advanced parental age, so they can make informed decisions about the timing of childbearing. All parents-to-be of advanced age should receive advice on the potential pregnancy, neonatal and long-term offspring health-related issues. These tasks require an interdisciplinary approach that could lead to patient-centered, informed decision-making strategies.
First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Gesthimani
G
Mintziori
Irene
I
Lambrinoudaki
Efstratios M
EM
Kolibianakis
Iuliana
I
Ceausu
Herman
H
Depypere
C Tamer
CT
Erel
Faustino R
FR
Pérez-López
Karin
K
Schenck-Gustafsson
Yvonne
Y
van der Schouw
Tommaso
T
Simoncini
Florence
F
Tremollieres
Basil C
BC
Tarlatzis
Margaret
M
Rees
Dimitrios G
DG
Goulis
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003657:Decision Making; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*
Advanced age; Advanced parental age; Female infertility; Late parenthood; Male infertility; Pregnancy complications