Late marriages and late conceptions have become a trend now. The age of menarche has gotten as young as 9 years and the age of menopause has advanced to 45-55 years. The need for socio-economic independence, education, and career has resulted in a delayed age of marriage and conception among women, even in India. This has now caused the number of optimal fertility years to decrease.
Earlier, an average Indian woman used to plan her first conception around the age of 23 to 25 but today Indian women plan their first conception at the age of 31 to 36 or 37. With lifestyle, environmental factors, and pollutants in the air and food, the ovarian reserve has drastically reduced in women.
A woman planning on a late conception is at a higher risk of co-morbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, thyroid abnormalities (hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism), polycystic ovarian syndrome, and obesity. In addition to this, the age of conception for male partners has also advanced as a result of which they might experience sexual abnormality, orgasmic disorder, and ejaculatory dysfunction.
Due to the above-stated reasons, it is imperative for couples planning a late pregnancy to undergo pre-marital counseling to help them identify whether they are choosing the right partner both medically and socially. Apart from this, pre-conceptional counseling would also help in identifying any co-morbidities like hypertension, diabetes, or any chances of a decreased ovarian reserve so that these can be corrected and optimized prior to the couple planning on the pregnancy. If careers are on the line, then the ovarian function can be preserved by starting early vitamins if required or even preserving their eggs via egg banking or egg freezing. The couples who have married early but want to go for a late conception can opt for embryo freezing.
Cancers have been diagnosed much earlier and younger women are getting prone to blood and breast cancers. The treatment of these cancers includes chemotherapy or radiotherapy which can jeopardize ovarian function and cause a menstrual disturbance. To avoid all this, be sure to plan pregnancy in an organized manner so that you can conceive in the most optimal health.
