The Forty Threshold: Does Maternal Age Impact the mode of delivery?

Authors : Şükrü Bakırcı, Uğurcan Zorlu, Duygu Tuğrul Ersak, Burcu Bozkurt Özdal, Nisa Bengisu Menteş, Atakan Tanacan, Özgür Kara, Dilek Sahin

Pages : 433-436

Doi:10.38136/jgon.1753423

View : 34 | Download : 136

Publication Date : 2026-01-03

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Background: The global trend of delayed childbearing has led to an increase in pregnancies among women of advanced maternal age (AMA), particularly those aged ≥ 40 years. This demographic shift is associated with maternal and perinatal adverse outcomes which may lead to high cesarean section (CS) rates. Objective: To evaluate and compare CS rates of women aged 40 years and older and those under 40 years, delivering at a tertiary referral center. Methods: All singleton live births at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital between years 2019 – 2025 were analyzed for this retrospective study. Patients were divided into two groups as: women aged ≥40 years (AMA group) and women <40 years (control group). The data were extracted from electronic medical records. Maternal age, delivery mode, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, neonatal sex were recorded. Results: A total of 44,075 singleton live births were recorded. Whereas 3,805 (8.63%) were to women aged ≥40 years and 40,270 (91.37%) were to women <40 years. The median age of the AMA group was 44 (40-62) years. The CS rate was found significantly higher in the AMA group when compared to the control group (69.57% vs. 53.56%, p< 0.001). In addition, NICU admission was significantly higher in the AMA group. Conclusion: AMA is in association with a significant increase in CS delivery rate. Age-specific counseling and individualized delivery planning for women of advanced maternal age should be considered.
Keywords : ileri anne yaşı, obstetrik sonuçlar, sezaryen

ORIGINAL ARTICLE URL