Advanced Maternal Age Trivia Quiz

Answer: Age thirty-five at time of delivery

Women age 35 or older at the time of delivery are considered to be of advanced maternal age.

Answer: True

As women age, their cycles become irregular. It is more likely that they will release more than one egg when they ovulate, thereby increasing the instances of twins.

Answer: False

Women are more likely to have children with chromosomal problems as they age. At age 40, approximately 1 in 109 babies will be born with Down Syndrome. By age 49, that risk is increased to 1 in 12!

Answer: False

There may be a greater risk of miscarriage in having an amniocentesis test than the risk of genetic abnormality. You should always discuss the benefits and risks with your health care provider before making a decision about amniocentesis testing.

Answer: Mature Primigravida

Elderly primigravida, elderly parturient, post-mature and obstetrically senescent are other terms that have been used to refer to mothers-to-be over age 35, but they are slightly more offensive than the terms used today.

Answer: True

These include, but are not limited to, arthritis, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Answer: Fetal X-Ray

Fetal X-Rays are not a common screening procedure during pregnancy. It is widely believed that exposure to x-rays during pregnancy can be harmful to the developing child. Sometimes, the risk of not having a needed x-ray could be greater than the risk from the radiation. You should always discuss the benefits and risks with your health care provider before making a decision.
A Triple Marker Screening is a blood test that is usually done in the second trimester of pregnancy to see if the fetus is at risk for neural tube defects or chromosomal abnormalities. It tests the levels of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), estriol, and alpha-fetoprotein.
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) is a prenatal test that can detect chromosomal disorders, as well as other genetic abnormalities by testing cells from the placenta called chorionic villi. Because CVS testing is invasive, there is a small risk of miscarriage.
An Ultrasound test is becoming a common form of testing during pregnancy. Ultrasound sends high frequency sound waves through the body which are reflected back and processed to form an image on a screen. Ultrasound is especially helpful in detecting ectopic pregnancy.

Answer: False

Women over age 40 can have healthy un-complicated pregnancies which result in healthy babies. It is a good idea to discuss the benefits and risks with your health care provider, and get early pre-natal care.

Answer: False

In recent years, many women over age 60 have had babies. A 67 year old woman in Spain gave birth to twins in December 2006. In most cases, the pregnancies were made possible by In Vitro Fertilization.

Answer: False

Generally, as women age they become less fertile due to reasons such as endometriosis, ovulation problems, lessened egg quality and others. There are many different fertility treatments available to help overcome these problems. See your health care provider for more information.