With the modernisation and high literacy level in women, the age of childbirth is postponed for many years after marriage. Another point to be mentioned is the age of marriage for women is by itself, being pushed from average 22- 27 to 27 to 30 years.

The best age for a woman to have a healthy child with ease is 22 to 27years, but at least before 30 years. But many are trying for conception only after 30 years.

The major drawbacks of advanced maternal age are

1. Difficulty in conception

2. Increased risk of miscarriage

3. Increased risk of anomalies

4. Increased risk of morbidities

The physical ageing in women is postponed by good dietary habits, exercise, yoga and lifestyle, but ovarian ageing cannot be postponed by these methods. On an average, 12 years before menopause, that is, at 38 years the ovarian reserve of eggs drops drastically. Asian women age 5years earlier than western women, as per evidence. Hence, any female not conceived after 32 years should seek medical advice.

There are good indicators for predicting the number/quantity of eggs instore ( blood test – AMH ), but unfortunately not many indicators for quality of eggs. Hence, sometimes even with IVF, the success rate is a little low. On fertility, aspects to explain simply, consider a scenario 15 eggs are retrieved from two patients, one from 29 years and another from 39 years. The younger patient will have at least 6 blastocyst embryos of good quality, whereas the older patient might have only 3 to 4 average quality embryos. But in reality, the 39 years, will usually get 6 to 7 oocytes/eggs only in one cycle, she may need 2 IVF cycles to get 15 oocytes.

Hence, balancing health, work, finance and family is very important and wishing all to happy motherhood.