Having given birth to her first child 30 years ago, Ms. Thuy and her husband wanted more children but had been unable to conceive for many years, leading to a diagnosis of secondary infertility of unknown cause. For over 6-7 months, she had not had a period, leading her to believe she was menopausal. She visited Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for perimenopausal disorder. During an ultrasound of her uterus and ovaries, doctors discovered she was 5-6 weeks pregnant.

Doctor of Second Degree Specialist Le Thanh Hung, Deputy Head of the Obstetrics Department at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Center, Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, stated that women at age 50 can still conceive naturally, though the rate is very low (below 1%). This is because women are in perimenopause at this age, and egg quality severely declines.

Ms. Thuy received counseling from doctors regarding the risks for both mother and baby. Specifically, the fetus could have certain chromosomal abnormalities, such as down syndrome. Pregnant women are prone to miscarriage, premature birth, and preeclampsia. If the mother has underlying conditions like hypertension, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease, the risk of obstetric complications increases.

Dr. Thanh Hung explains the risks of pregnancy at age 50 to Ms. Thuy. *Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital*

Ms. Thuy must adhere to her 12-week prenatal check-up schedule for a morphological ultrasound and fetal anomaly screening tests. All ultrasound, testing, and prenatal screening milestones must be fully completed as prescribed by her doctor.

In 2025, Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City admitted nearly 5 cases of women giving birth over the age of 50, most of whom conceived through assisted reproductive technology. Among these was a 53-year-old woman with a twin pregnancy.

According to Dr. Hung, the average age of natural menopause for Vietnamese women is around 48-52. Menopause is diagnosed when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months, provided there are no other causes for the missed periods, such as pregnancy, illness, medication, or medical interventions.

Dr. Thanh Hung advises against concluding menopause or loss of fertility based solely on infrequent or missed periods; a medical examination is necessary for proper assessment. During perimenopause, middle-aged women still need to follow safe contraception methods, such as: condoms, birth control pills, contraceptive implants, or IUDs, to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy.

Tue Diem

*The character's name has been changed