The age at which people start families in India is steadily increasing. While couples previously planned to have children within a few years of marriage, many are now deciding to become parents after the age of 30 or 35 due to factors such as education, career ambitions, financial stability, and changing lifestyles. Alongside these social changes, challenges such as declining fertility are also rapidly emerging. According to Dr. Shweta Gupta, Director and Infertility and IVF Specialist at Max Hospital, Panchsheel Park, approximately 10 to 15 percent of women in India face difficulty conceiving, and this figure is rising due to the increasing trend of late-term motherhood.
Why is the trend of late parenthood increasing?
Experts consider many social and lifestyle reasons responsible for this.
Late marriage – Experts say that late marriage is a major cause of difficulty conceiving. After the age of 35, a woman’s egg count and quality naturally decline, reducing the chances of pregnancy. Furthermore, more women today prioritize higher education and careers; the decision to start a family is often made only after achieving financial stability and achieving professional goals.
Urban lifestyle – Experts believe that urban lifestyles also impact fertility. Factors such as junk food consumption, obesity, lack of physical activity, and prolonged sitting can disrupt hormonal balance in women and affect ovulation.
Stress is a factor – Stress and anxiety also play a significant role. Persistent mental stress affects the body’s hormonal system, which can lead to irregular menstrual cycles and difficulty conceiving.
Infertility due to pollution – Experts also point out that the shift from joint families to nuclear families and increasing air pollution in large cities are negatively impacting fertility. Can fertility be maintained?
Dr. Shweta Gupta says that if a woman wants to become a mother in the future but isn’t planning to conceive immediately, “social egg freezing” may be a good option. In this process, a woman’s healthy eggs are extracted before the age of 35 and preserved using special techniques. If needed, they can be used through IVF. This method can significantly reduce the impact of declining egg quality with age.
IVF Raises Hope
If natural conception is not possible, techniques like Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) offer hope to many couples. In IVF, the woman’s egg and the man’s sperm are fertilized in a lab and the resulting embryos are implanted in the uterus. This technique is proving successful in addressing problems like ovulation problems, blocked fallopian tubes and severe infertility in men.
Timely planning is essential.
Experts emphasize that while both career and family are important, the “biological clock” cannot be ignored. If a couple is planning to start a family after the age of 30, it is advisable to undergo periodic fertility tests and seek specialist advice if needed. With timely information, a healthy lifestyle, and the help of modern medical science, the dream of becoming a parent can become a reality.
