Modern lifestyles and hectic schedules are leaving couples with little time to have children and become parents.

They are postponing the consideration of becoming parents until later in life. According to a recent report by AIIMS, 10-15% of couples in India face fertility problems.
Fertility problems are often focused on women, but in reality, this problem affects both men and women.
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What is fertility like in women? Why are younger women more fertile than older women?

Women have a fixed number of eggs in their bodies. After girls start menstruating, about 1,000 eggs are released from the ovaries. One of these eggs is dominant. It either becomes fertilized by intercourse or it dissolves and causes women to menstruate.

As women age, the number of eggs released from their ovaries decreases. Indian women, especially after the age of 35, are seeing a rapid decline in their egg count. While this is one factor that hinders fertility, some other reasons are as follows.

Women today are under increased physical, emotional and mental stress. Women are under a lot of stress due to several factors. This stress leads to damage to the ovaries.

Unhealthy habits like not eating a balanced diet, not eating at the right time, not sleeping on time, spending too much time on the computer, mobile phone, TV, etc., and smoking and drinking alcohol can harm the quality of eggs.
As the quality of eggs declines, the risk of miscarriage increases in older women, which also puts women at risk.
Older women are more likely to have medical conditions like high blood pressure, thyroid, and heart disease, which makes it challenging for women to produce high-quality eggs.

Older women are more likely to have recurrent infections. These can affect the fallopian tubes, which can increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is a condition in which a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. It usually occurs in the fallopian tubes. If the eggs are implanted here, they cannot develop. It can also cause health problems for women.

Modern medicine has advanced to a high level and has made it possible for women to become pregnant. IVF (in-vitro fertilization) offers older women the opportunity to become pregnant and raise their own children. Here are some of the ways IVF can help people who are struggling to become parents…

• Genetic screening

Genetic screening of the fetus is not a routine procedure during a normal pregnancy. Genetic screening helps in identifying the best embryo by checking if the fetus has any diseases and unusual problems. Genetic screening is performed by the doctor to ensure that the best embryo is selected for IVF treatment. This increases the chances of fertility success.

• Medicines

IVF treatment also includes medications. They provide potential mothers with multi-vitamins and essential nutrients, as well as antioxidants, to enhance the quality of the eggs.

• Injections

Injections such as growth hormones help in the success of IVF treatment. Procedures such as stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma are injected directly into the ovaries. This not only improves the quality of the eggs but also helps in the success of the treatment.

• Laser hatching

After the egg and sperm fuse, it is called an embryo. An embryo has a hard outer shell. Without breaking it, the embryo cannot attach to the uterine wall. Laser hatching is used in IVF to remove the outer layer of the embryo. This allows the embryo to attach to the uterus.

All of these services are safe when prescribed by a doctor and performed by experts in the field. Most patients do not experience any long-term health problems from IVF. In the short term, they may feel bloated, nauseous, tired, and experience emotional turmoil. Sometimes there are risks after ovarian hyperstimulation, but most cases are safely managed by doctors.
The chances of success of IVF treatment are increased if both partners are physically fit and mentally calm. They should abstain from smoking and alcohol. Couples should follow a balanced diet to ensure that they consume foods rich in minerals and nutrients and keep themselves active and healthy.

Source: Prajavani/Is it okay to postpone pregnancy? What are the factors that hinder fertility?

Updated On : 9/5/2023