The age for starting a family is continuously increasing in India. Earlier, planning for a child was done within a few years of marriage. Now, due to education, career, financial strength and changing lifestyle, many couples are deciding to become parents after the age of 30 or 35. Due to this, along with social changes, challenges like decline in fertility are also emerging rapidly.
According to Dr. Shweta Gupta, Infertility and IVF specialist, Director of Max Hospital, Panchsheel Park, about 10 to 15 percent of women in India face difficulty in conceiving and this number is continuously increasing due to the increasing trend of late motherhood.
Why is the trend of becoming parents late increasing?
According to experts, there are many social and lifestyle related reasons behind this.
marrying late- Experts say that the biggest reason for not being able to get pregnant is late marriage. In women, after the age of 35, the number and quality of eggs normally starts decreasing, due to which the chances of pregnancy reduce. Moreover, today more women are giving priority to higher education and career. The decision to expand the family is taken only after becoming financially strong and completing official targets.
Urban Lifestyle- Experts said that urban lifestyle is also affecting fertility. Junk food, obesity, lack of physical activity and habit of sitting for long periods can disturb the hormonal balance and affect ovulation in women.
Stress is also the reason- Along with this, stress and anxiety are also big reasons. Constant mental pressure affects the hormonal system of the body, which can lead to irregular menstruation and difficulties in conceiving.
Infertility due to pollution- Experts also say that the increase in nuclear families instead of joint families and increasing air pollution in big cities are also having a negative impact on fertility.
Can fertility be preserved?
Dr. Shweta Gupta says that if a woman feels that she wants to become a mother in the future but does not plan to conceive yet, then social egg freezing can be a good option. In this process, healthy eggs of the woman are removed before the age of 35 and kept safe with special technology. Later, if needed, these can be used through IVF process. With this, the effect of decline in the quality of eggs due to aging can be reduced to a great extent.
Increased expectations from IVF
If natural conception is not possible, then techniques like Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) are becoming a ray of hope for many couples. In IVF, the woman’s egg and the man’s sperm are fertilized in the laboratory and the prepared embryo is implanted in the uterus. This technique is also proving successful in conditions like ovulation related problems, fallopian tube blockage and severe infertility in men.
Planning on time is most important
Experts say that both career and family are important, but the biological clock cannot be ignored. If the couple is planning a family after the age of 30, it is better to get fertility tests done from time to time and consult a specialist if needed. The dream of becoming a parent can be fulfilled with the help of awareness, healthy lifestyle and modern medicine at the right time.
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