Fertility in women after age forty-five.

Pregnancy after age 45 years is infrequent and the mother and baby should be considered as a high risk. There is a greater incidence of spontaneous abortion, gestational trophoblastic disease and chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. Birth control practices should be discontinued after 49 years of age in the best interest of the woman's sexuality if abortion is acceptable to her. The patient should be completely informed of the risks and, in the event of pregnancy, abortion should be advised.