[Pregnancy complications according to maternal age].

The number of late pregnancies, at 40 years or more has dramatically increased recently, multiplying by more than three, in France, since 1980 (30000 versus 8500). Medical particularities are dominated by higher risks of first trimester miscarriages and Down syndromes. Screening and diagnostic conditions have changed recently in France with a reduiced number of invasive procedures (amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling) but also a lower expected diagnostic ratio. Thanks to the present medical surveillance these pregnancies are not considered at high risk for the child. On the other hand, these pregnancies are at higher risk for the mothers, associated with the increased numbers, for the deliveries, of caesarean sections, hemorrhages, and thromboembolic accidents.