Women up to the age of 50 will soon be eligible for IVF fertility treatments in the Netherlands, if their eggs were harvested before they reached the age of 43.

The current age limit is 45 but health minister Edith Schippers has told MPs this can be extended, in line with advice from the Dutch obstetrics association NVOG.

‘We are extremely happy about this move,’ the association told RTL Nieuws. ‘We will now be able to treat women who are unable to become pregnant for whatever reason up to a later age.’ Every case will have to be assessed on the basis of risk, the NVOG said.

Nevertheless, women should not delay becoming mothers without good reason, the organisation said. ‘The older you get, the less likely you are to become pregnant. If a woman is ready, she should not delay.’