Tragic outcome of post-menopausal pregnancy: an obstetric commentary.

The recent Italian court report regarding the removal and adoption of a 1-year-old child conceived with assisted reproduction treatment from parents deemed to be 'too old' at ages 57 and 70 brings to the fore the complex medical and ethical issues that surround assisted reproduction. This obstetric commentary examines the biology of reproductive ageing, current childbearing trends and the outcomes of post-reproductive age pregnancies, particularly focusing on maternal mortality as 'the tip of the iceberg' of IVF harms. The case highlights the need for global standards to ensure medical accountability.