Be aware about the right age for your parenthood

By Dr. Shobha Gupta

There is a growing trend for child bearing at a later age not only in abroad but this trend has been catching up in India also for a while now. The reason why parenthood is being postpone are many; but the most common reasons for delaying it are: availability of safe and effective contraception, to pursue education and build career, to achieve financial independence and occasionally to maintain gap between babies. However, biologically the optimum period for child bearing is between the age of 20-35 years. After this age there might be difficulty in conceiving and the risks of miscarriage also rises up.  

Risk of miscarriage under 35 years is around 15% which increases to 20-35% at the age of 35-45 years and 50% in women of more than 45 years of age. If a woman of 30 years of age tries for pregnancy, then 75% of them will conceive naturally. While women aged around 35 years or more tries for pregnancy, then 66% of them might have chances of getting

infertile due to less production of eggs in them. In that case IUI or IVF would be options available for them.

Reason behind it is usually the number and quality of eggs decline with age. Studies have suggested, Live Birth rate after IVF treatment is around 32% in the age group less than 35 years which drops to 18% in age group 38-40 years and declines further to 5% beyond 42 years of age.  

Moreover, advanced age during pregnancy is associated with medical complications. Hence women should be encouraged to consider having family during period of optimum fertility age i.e between 20 to 25 years where the fertility is at peak during that age. However, 25 to 30 years of age can also be considered for pregnancy. 

Also there are few health problems associated late family planning. In advanced maternal age group, women may need IVF treatment, risk of miscarriage, risk of birth defects in baby, risk of development of Blood pressure in pregnancy, risk of diabetes during pregnancy, risk of growth restricted baby , preterm delivery, risk of caesarean section and increased risk to admission of babies to neonatal intensive care unit would be high.

So, it is better that one should think of getting pregnant at the right age group and enjoy the joy of having baby and cuddling them forever.