A 67-year-old woman in China pregnant with twins is determined to defy doctors' orders to have an abortion, despite fears for her health.

The woman, identified only by her surname Zhang, would be one of the oldest women in the world to give birth after a course of in vitro fertilisation in June.

Ms Zhang said that having a child "is everything" to her, after losing her 34-year-old son in a car accident four years ago, the South China Morning Post reported.

"I couldn't fall asleep without sleeping pills for years. I used to dream about educating my son's children, but it came to nothing," she told the Beijing News.

Desperate to have children of her own again, Ms Zhang and her husband sought assistance from a hospital in Taiwan after failing to conceive naturally.

She found it difficult to find treatment from doctors once she returned to China, who believe her high blood pressure and age will make the pregnancy extremely risky.

The woman explained that "no one cared" about her when she lost her only child, so she found another way to be a mother.

"I'm not so rich, but I'm prepared to support a child, and I believe I could live to 85 to see my child grow up to be an adult."

Ms Zhang said that should she require any help with the babies, her 40-year-old nephew is able to assist in raising the children.

Newshub.