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.

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.

Apart from the IVF treatment, Chan also received injections to boost the chance of pregnancy and ensure the fetus’ health.