Lessons in fertility for 11 year olds

[FarAwayHills]

So the chairman of the British Fertility Society is recommending lessons in fertility for 11 year olds.

Surely this is the furthest thing on the minds of most 11 year olds.

I think it should be covered later on.

IVF experts/Consultants, where I am in Liverpool were calling for more Women to be given the facts, because the main bulk of their patients are Women who have just left it too late and they can't help them.

They also said that given the amount of funding they get, they don't want to put it to that use.

This is a subject where MN is nothing like RL, there are a disproportionate amount of posters who deliver a live baby, in their 40's, or (claim to?) know lots of Women who have.

I think it's a shame that Women aren't given the clear information that they need.

Kind of torn on this one. As someone who 'left it too late' myself (yes 30 was almost too late for me) I can see where anyone who has had IVF or helps people with assisted conception is coming from.

On the other hand, aren't we in danger or giving young people mixed and confusing messages - don't have children too young - you must establish a career, relationships, etc, first, but also don't leave it too late, otherwise it's your own fault if you can't have any and obviously your own fault that you put your career first, failed to find a good enough relationship, etc!

This idea of a 'perfect window' for having children seems an awful lot more info to be heaping on kids who are still coming to terms with puberty, sexual awareness, etc.

The older you get the less chance you have of having a child and you actual age is not your fertility age are there women out there who don't no this

Or is it more a case they no bury heads in sand and think I will just have iVF

Yeah, I am sick of the endless lecturing women about when to have babies.

As if you have a whole lot of control as when you will get the opportunity to have babies.

As if all that is involved is your own personal selfish procrastination

Definitely agree it's not information that's useful to 11yo. Perhaps more for 16 - 18yo.

IVF experts/Consultants, where I am in Liverpool were calling for more Women to be given the facts, because the main bulk of their patients are Women who have just left it too late and they can't help them.

Er, where did you get this from? I would be incredibly surprised a) if they'd said this b) if it were true. Considering at least 20% are male factor alone with further numbers for both partners with both problems plus lots of women with PCOS (which about 10-20% of women have), endometriosis (affects about 5% of women) or other medical problems unrelated to age it seems unlikely.

In fact it sounds like the sort of misinformed BS that people who oppose IVF but don't know much about it tend to spout.

So everyone thinks the only lesson info would be about declining fertility? Not about the fact you can get pg while on your period, or before you ever had have a period, or even if the boy thinks he pulled out before he ejaculated, etc?

I think a circumstances have a lot more to do with when women have babies rather than them actually choosing to have babies later in life.

It's not all about power mad career women putting starting family on hold and then relying on IVF. Look at how difficult it is to get on the housing ladder, young couples are trying to save for years for a deposit while also paying extortionate rent.

It's all very well saying hurry up and have a baby but this message conflicts with the idea that you should have a baby when you are in a position to provide and care for the child.