Has the age limit for older children changed in Beijing?
Beijing is the capital of China and a densely populated city. With the development of society and the change of population structure, the elderly childbearing has become a concern. The Beijing Municipal Government has imposed age restrictions on elderly childbearing since 2014, but has there been any change in the near future? The following will be elaborated from four aspects: changes in laws and regulations, hospital policies, medical technology and social attitudes.
1、 Regulatory changes
In 2014, the Beijing Municipal Government issued the Implementation Plan of the Beijing Comprehensive Two child Policy, which stipulates that women should be between 23 and 45 years old and men should be between 25 and 56 years old to enjoy the dividends of the comprehensive two child policy. This policy is formulated according to the needs of population structure and social development. However, with the development of society and the progress of medical technology, people's fertility concepts and abilities have changed.
In recent years, the Beijing Municipal Government has begun to explore relaxing the policy of elder childbearing. For example, in 2019, the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress issued the Decision on Further Improving Population Policies to Support the Development of High level Talents Clustering, which clearly stated that women can enjoy a comprehensive two child policy when they reach the age of 40. This measure has relaxed the age limit for elderly childbearing to a certain extent.
However, it should be noted that both the 2014 policy and the 2019 policy emphasize that the elderly childbearing needs to meet certain physical conditions and medical indicators. Therefore, even if the age meets the requirements, if the physical conditions do not meet, the hospital has the right to refuse the application for elder childbearing.
2、 Hospital policy
There are several regular hospitals in Beijing, such as Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing Maternity Hospital, etc. These hospitals do not have the same age limit for elderly childbearing. Generally speaking, the age limit for women in hospitals is about 45 years old, and that for men is about 55 years old. This is due to medical and physiological considerations to ensure the health of mothers and babies. However, in some special cases, the hospital will also make adjustments according to the specific circumstances, and the age can be appropriately relaxed.
In addition, the hospital will also carry out a series of physical examinations and evaluations on the elderly birth applicants to ensure that they can undertake and successfully complete the process of pregnancy and childbirth. Only after passing these examinations and assessments will the hospital give the elderly birth applicants the qualification to give birth.
Therefore, although policy changes can provide more opportunities for elderly childbearing, hospital policies and requirements are the key to determine whether elderly childbearing can be carried out.
3、 Medical technology
With the increasing progress of medical technology, the success rate of elderly childbearing has been greatly improved. For example, IVF technology has become a common means of assisted reproduction. With IVF technology, even older women may be able to conceive and deliver successfully.
In addition, the development of genetics has also facilitated the birth of the elderly. Gene screening technology can help couples detect whether embryos carry certain genetic diseases or abnormal genes, thereby reducing the risk of abnormal fetuses.
Therefore, advances in medical technology have made it safer and more feasible to give birth at an advanced age, and also provided more options for older couples.
4、 Social attitude
With the change of social concepts, people's attitudes towards elder childbearing have also changed. In the past, childbearing at an advanced age was often regarded as an extravagant or irresponsible act. Now, more and more people begin to believe that everyone has the right to choose their own childbearing time.
People began to understand and respect the decision of elderly couples to choose elderly childbearing, and provide appropriate support and help. Some social organizations and professional institutions have also introduced relevant policies and services to help elderly couples solve their fertility problems.
Therefore, the social attitude has become more inclusive and supportive, which also provides a good environment and conditions for the elderly childbearing.
Summary
In general, the age limit for Beijing's elderly childbearing has changed to some extent in recent years. The government has gradually relaxed the age limit for elderly childbearing, but the requirements and technology of hospitals are also the key to determine whether elderly childbearing can be carried out. With the continuous progress of medical technology and the change of social concepts, the elderly childbearing is gradually becoming a feasible choice, providing hope and opportunities for more older couples.
