The risk of fetal loss according to maternal age at conception follows a J-shaped curve, with a steep increase after the age of 35 years. Older mothers are more likely to be nulliparous. Even without consideration of maternal age, multiple pregnancies have increased rates of obstetric complications such as pre-eclampsia. Porreco attempted to address the specific effect of ovum donation on pregnancy outcome in older mothers while also considering plurality. Stillbirths affect one in 200 pregnancies. In a population where 1091 of 10737 women were aged 35 years or over, the need for oxytocin and the incidence of prolonged labour, instrumental delivery, intrapartum caesarean section and intrapartum caesarean section because of dystocia all increased with increasing maternal age. Obstetricians and gynaecologists should advocate for policies that enable women to reproduce safely without personal cost to their education, careers, identity or their own or their offspring's health.