Do you know your reproductive rights?

Personally I feel that anyone who has a 50% chance of dying (from natural causes/old age) before their child graduates high school is just being selfish when they decide they want to have a baby. Here in the U.S. the average age to retire from work is between 62 and 67. People generally start collecting a pension at 65. People do these things because they are too old or too tired to work every day anymore. Yet, the last time I checked being a mom was a full time job. I am 31 and my kids kick my butt on a daily basis, and I'm in good physical shape. I couldn't begin to imagine having to do all the things I do EVERY DAY 30 years from now! I suppose if Mother Nature allows it to happen naturally without the aid of IVF treatments or medical intervention then it could be chalked up to the will of insert deity of choice here but anyone who achieves motherhood with the help of a petri dish is just being selfish!

No I don't believe it's always our right and when it comes to IVF for example, there MUST be conditions that ensure certain criteria are met. OctoMum is a classic example of abuse of this procedure. A 60 year old woman giving birth is another abuse of it in my opinion. A person's immediate and future ability to care for a child in an optimal environment must always be the primary concern and to create a "productive rights" stance along the lines of what you've shared is completely ignorant of this. So a blind man decides at the age of 60 that he wishes to have corneal transplants and become a pilot for British Airways. Should we let him? Is it a fair expectation on his part? Common sense should always prevail surely?

Reminds me of a discussion I started a while back about James Doohan (Star Trek's Scotty) who had a child with his wife Wende when she was in her late 30's and he was 80. The question was whether or not people should have children knowing that they would almost certainly be raised by somebody else. I could go on and on about responsibility and not having children when you can't afford them, can't raise them, etc. Or about having more than a certain number of children when the world is so overpopulated. Problem is, how do you legislate something like that? Ultimately, I think you need to educate people and leave it up to personal choice. Anything else smacks of Nazi Germany.

As long as they are healthy and there's a good chance they'll live long, why can't they have kids? I personally wouldn't have any after 35 because I want to raise my own kids and see them grow up before I'm too old to enjoy them.

If you have reproductive strength you have the right to use it.

None of us has a guarantee to be here tomorrow. However, I would question the sensibility to have children if you don't expect to live at least until they are out of college. That's 22 to 26 years. It's heartbreaking to lose parents, and I can't imagine growing up with parents who are so old that you're afraid of them dying at anytime. I feel the same way for men who are into their 70's or beyond who puff their chest out because they've gotten some one pregnant. What are they thinking?

Some woman had to put off having children due to careers or not having enough money or support to have a child and once they are older they have more time to focus on a child and give them what they thought they couldn't provide before. I know it's our bodies and all but they are so many unwanted children in the world and adopting a few would be better then maybe risking their life to have a child. After a certain age the health risk factors are really high in an older woman over 45. I would love to adopt but seeing as how We barely make ends meet now..We always have plenty of food and love to give them..but kids need more then that to get through life..

Ok I am not writting this all over again it has just refused to post what I had to say and there was nothing in it against the rules So all I am going to say now is that I do not agree with it It is not fair to the Child and also the IVF Treatment should be for only Couples that have tried and can't have their own the natural way As far as I am concerned a 60 Year old is not as fit as say a 30 year old to me it is not right but that is only my view

I think that age wouldn't be a factor if we can live longer that 120 in good shape. Children need to be taking care of by parents in good shape. Taking care of older parents when you are teenager is not fun at all... I am not questioning biological condition to deliver the child, but children well being. With modern medicine, everything is possible, but with age is also possible that people can become ill and unable to take care of children.

Reproductive rights is something that people rarely discuss these days and not many people really paid much attention to this until they are comfronted with some issues that involve this right. Yes, we all have the right to have or not to have children. This is a basci right and people should learn to recognize this.

I've never thought of reproductive rights though I've heard them mentioned before when anyone mentions limiting the number of kids a woman can have that's collecting Welfare. As to age limits, I'd say if the woman can get pregnant on her own and it happens, that's between her, her partner and her doctor but to purposely go out and be implanted just to get pregnant seems...I don't know...like the doctors are playing God. Maybe there's a reason why women are meant to have kids that late in life. I wouldn't have a child at that age b/c there's a very real chance that I wouldn't live long enough to see it grow up. Some women live till their 80's and 90's but some don't live past 65. I'd rather spend my golden years taking it easy, not working my elderly butt off to raise another kid. [b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~ **STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]

I first heard of reproductive rights a few days ago, when I read a newspaper article about women in Africa, who were deceived into being sterilised without their knowledge and consent. If a woman wants a child when 60 or beyond, it's her own body, her own life and therefore her own decision...

I think that personally I'd rather have babies in my 30's or later 20's cause i find that they say there's more chance for complications and such at older ages. I also think that if i have children at an earlier age I'll get to be with them longer and get to see grandchildren. If i have kids when im over the age of 60 and i die at 68 like my grandma did...well i leave my kids with out a mom and thats just not good.

Hi p1key, Whilst women have the rights to their reproduce, but I don't think it right to have a child in their sixties, I think that is selfish, its what they want but what about the child? when the child is in the teens, can you imagine? the poor child will have no life but to look after his/her mother will be in their 70s, they would look more like grand parent the parent and will looes the mother when the child is young. Well that is my opion, I just think its selfish. Hugs Tamara xxxx

Don't know about reproductie rights. I do know that nature stops women from becoming mothers at a certain age for good reason. At 50ish, I love being a Nanna but would hate to be a mum again, I haven't got the energy. Maybe because I am a child of older parents, mum was in her late 40s and dadnearly 50 when I was born, I often felt uncomfortable when they came to parents evenings etc., especially as a lot of the other children thought they were my grandparents. I loved my parents very much but don't agree with older people having children.

I do, generally, think it is up to people to choose and if a fit and healthy couple who happen to be in their 50s have planned to have a baby then it is up to them. Personally, I don't think I would do that though. However much longer we are living and whatever else, pregnancy and childbirth risks are still significantly increased in older women. However, I don't agree that everyone should be entitled to IVF treatment. I know this is probably an insensitive thing to say but if you can't have a child then just accept it. Wouldn't that be better than going through IVF and still not having the baby you want or getting pregnant and then losing the baby because your body can't cope or whatever. I guess it's ok as an informed choice for young, health couples and while I wouldn't say that an older person should have an abortion if they fall pregnant naturally, I don't think it can be good for them to have IVF. I think I've said that the way I wanted. Tell me if I haven't won't ya?

I, personally, can NOT imagine wanting to have a child at 50 or 60. I can't imagine WANTING to get up at all hours for an infant. But even more, I can NOT imagine having a teenager at 70 or 80.

Yeah, me too, agnostic. Anybody with a reproductive tract in our country can reproduce, naturally or by paying to use extra medical means. I know in some countries that are overpopulated, they have a limit on how many children they are allowed to have. What business is it of mine how, when or how many children people have. It only becomes an issue, if the children are neglected or abused. Otherwise.....reproduce as much as you want. Farmers, historically, always had HUGE families, so that they had help with the chores required to sustain the family. The more hands on deck, the easier it is for each one, really.

i am aware that every female has the right to produce or have children when they want..but yes we have a biological clock to consider because ignoring it may cause implications in the future.

that's a women thing I'll never understand that..lol