Pregnancy of Hongkonger, 58, sparks hope for older women and fears over risks
The pregnancy of a 58-year-old woman in Hong Kong has sparked hopes for older women seeking to have children but also raised concerns about the risks of giving birth later in life.
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Chan Lai-lai, wife of local actor Brian Wong Chak-fung, told the Post on Saturday the recent announcement they were expecting their second daughter in September had been encouraging to a lot of women of a similar age in the city.
'In fact, many people have privately messaged me, expressing that it has become a source of hope for them. Some have attempted it once and have already given up,' said Chan, referring to her successful in vitro fertilisation, a type of assisted reproduction service.
'I told them that if you give up after one attempt, you deprive yourself of a second chance. You need to regain a positive mindset to try again, and this requires time for adjustment.'
Her pregnancy has attracted public attention at a time of increasing calls for the government to implement more measures to help older women give birth, including by allowing them to store embryos for as long as they want.
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Apart from the IVF treatment, Chan also received injections to boost the chance of pregnancy and ensure the fetus' health.
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