Kelly Clarke, a single mother from Crawley, Sussex, gave birth to her daughter Lyla Rae Clarke in March 2021 at the age of 50 after undergoing IVF treatment in Athens using donor egg and sperm. Now 55, Clarke says she was in 'peak fitness' when she conceived and encourages other women considering later-in-life motherhood to take the plunge, despite new research indicating a sharp decline in fertility success after age 49.
Research Shows Fertility Decline After 49
A study by the IVIRMA Global Research Alliance in Italy examined 1,774 women and found that those over 49 had significantly lower odds of achieving a live birth and more than double the odds of miscarriage compared to women aged 35 to 40, even when using young donor eggs. The research challenges the idea that donor eggs can 'reset' the biological clock, suggesting age-related changes in the womb lining may be responsible.
Despite these findings, Clarke insists women should not be discouraged. 'At the end of the day you're as old as you feel. I was at my peak fitness when I conceived and I had the most amazing pregnancy, feeling her inside me was my dream come true,' she said.
Clarke's Journey to Motherhood
After a 23-year career as a flight attendant and senior roles at Gatwick Airport, Clarke decided at 50 that she was ready to become a mother. She travelled to Athens in 2020 for IVF, as UK clinicians advised using donor eggs due to the risks of using her own. 'I trusted the experts completely. She is not my egg, but she is mine, I grew her and without me she wouldn't be here,' Clarke said.
Clarke opted for a sperm donor to avoid co-parenting, allowing her to raise Lyla as she wished. After being made redundant during the pandemic, she relied on Universal Credit before retraining as a swim teacher. She now works as a teaching assistant at her daughter's school. 'I want to spend as much time as possible with Lyla Rae, I don't want other people picking her up or dropping her off because that's my job,' she explained.
Financial and Emotional Preparedness
Clarke paid off her mortgage just after Lyla's first birthday and says her age has been an advantage. 'I don't think I would have done as well as I am now if I was a younger mum. I've done the partying, the flying, the travelling, I've swam with sharks. Now I can share the experiences with Lyla and I'm not looking at her wishing her life away just so I can get mine back.'
The number of women in their fifties using donor eggs for IVF has risen by 67% over the past decade, according to the UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Clarke, who now describes her life as 'being a mummy and living my best life', encourages other women: 'You'll regret not doing it as once that baby is here, the love is worth everything.'
