New Delhi: The conversation around fertility in our society has traditionally been reactive. Couples seek help only after facing difficulty conceiving. However, people have to realise that there has been a shift in the biological reality of the modern woman. There are multiple reasons, like genetic factors, lifestyle stressors, environmental pollutants, or the combination of all of them, which are causing the fertility window for many to narrow.
In an interaction with News9Live, Dr. Bhavana Girish, IVF Specialist at Motherhood Fertility & IVF, Banshankari & Indiranagar, Bangalore, spoke about the ideal date of going for egg freezing.
For women in high-risk categories, egg freezing is no longer a luxury of the future. Women suffering from severe endometriosis, PCOS with Insulin Resistance, or those who have a family history of early menopause, are generally categorised as ‘high-risk’. While the general population is often told to consider egg freezing between the ages of 32 and 35, for these high-risk women, that advice comes too late. For them, waiting until their mid-30s to consider freezing can lead to poor outcomes; they should be considering it as early as age 25.
One of the most overlooked, but also the most significant, risk factors is family history. If a woman’s mother reached menopause before the age of 45, the daughter is at a significantly higher risk for Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI). In such cases, or in a situation where a woman has particularly painful periods, should have a fertility check-up by the age of 25. If the results show a declining reserve, egg freezing provides an insurance policy that preserves her autonomy and her chance at motherhood.
The benefit that comes from freezing one’s eggs in their late 20s or 30s is the health of the chromosomes. An egg frozen at the age of 28 would be biologically younger than an egg frozen at 38. The chances of a successful and healthy pregnancy also increase a lot in that case.
We must normalise Fertility Screening among women, especially young women. Even simple tests like the AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) blood test and ultrasound follicle counts. Being proactive today means avoiding the emotional and financial strain of intensive IVF treatments tomorrow. It is time we prioritise reproductive foresight as a standard pillar of women’s healthcare.
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