Why I lied to doctors, by world's oldest mother, aged 67

A spinister who has become the world's oldest mother lied about her age to undergo IVF treatment, she admitted yesterday.

Carmela Bousada, 67 years old, convinced doctors she was only 55 years old - the age limit for treatment at the fertility center she chose.

The pensioner chose sperm and egg donors from a catalog and underwent the procedure without telling her family.

• Britain's oldest mother takes parenthood in her stride

She gave birth to healthy twin boys, called Pau and Christian, after a difficult pregnancy on December 29 - seven days before her 67th birthday.

Yesterday, Miss Bousada told how she had always dreamed of having children, though she would have preferred to have done it within a traditional relationship.

But didn't work out that way, she said.

Miss Bousada dismissed concerns she could struggle to cope because of her age.

How will I cope? I'll buy a playpen, she said from her one-bedroom flat in Cadiz, in southern Spain.

Everyone has to have children at the right time for them. This was the right time for me. It was something I always dreamed of.

Miss Bousada decided to try and get pregnant after her mother died in 2005 at 101 years old.

Inspired by magazine stories about older women having babies, she sold the flat they had shared for £30,000 and used the money to pay for IVF treatment at the Pacific Fertility Center in Los Angeles.

The private clinic refuses to treat women over 55 years old, but Miss Bousada said: I conned doctors to think I was younger.

They didn't ask for my age or my passport. I may look tired now but before the births, I did look slim and a lot younger.

She said her family and friends were unaware of her treatment.

I told a few girlfriends I loved the idea of having a baby, but none of them took me seriously. They thought it was impossible.

I've wanted children for a very long time. Now finally I have two perfect boys. People are entitled to their opinions, but they shouldn't judge me.

Read more: Why I lied to doctors, by world's oldest mother, aged 67

Category: 56+, donor eggs