An Indian woman has given birth to her first child at the age of 70 after receiving IVF treatment, newspapers reported her doctor as saying on Monday.

Rajo Devi, who married 50 years ago, gave birth to a baby girl on November 28 after in vitro fertilisation, said Anurag Bishnoi, a doctor at the Hisar fertility centre in Haryana state.

Rajo Devi and (her husband) Bala Ram approached the centre for treatment and the embryo transfer was done on April 19, he told the Hindustan Times. Both the mother and child are in good health.

Mr Bishnoi claimed Mrs Devi was the worlds oldest mother.

Another 70-year-old Indian was reported to have given birth to twins via IVF in July this year, while a 66-year-old Spanish woman had twins in 2006.

Mrs Devis husband, aged 72, had also wed his wifes sister after 10 years of his first marriage, which did not result in children. His second wife also failed to become pregnant.

It was not clear whose egg and sperm were used in the successful treatment.

IVF has revolutionised the way we look at infertility, said Mr Bishnoi. Infertility is no longer a social taboo or a divine curse. It can be treated scientifically.

NEW DELHI
AFP