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As we know, health is multidimensional and includes physical, mental and emotional health. It also relates to the feeling of being empowered to make one’s own decisions without any social pressure and is one area of women empowerment that is not often talked about. This is crucial to a woman’s sense of health, which also includes her reproductive or reproductive health. In fact, this area of reproductive health needs urgent attention mainly for two reasons:
- Incidences of infertility among couples are increasing rapidly due to late marriage and delayed child-bearing
- Motherhood, even today, is inextricably linked to a woman’s overall health.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Shanujeet Kaur, Associate Director, Obstetrics & Gynecology and Fertility Specialist, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Chandigarh, talks about her journey to empower women in terms of their reproductive health –
1. Age and fertility,
It is important for women to know that they are born with a limited number of eggs, which decrease in both quantity and quality with age, especially after the age of 35. As women are delaying marriage and childbearing for various reasons, they may face challenges in conceiving naturally due to age-related fertility decline. Also, there is the myth that it is possible to become a mother at any age with in vitro fertilization (IVF) technique. This is not true. The success rate of any fertility treatment, including IVF, depends heavily on the age of the woman. This is where age comes into play Social Egg Freezing This allows women to preserve their eggs during puberty, and the quality of the eggs is generally better.
This option gives women more control over their reproductive timeline and may reduce some of the fertility problems associated with aging. The best age to have social egg freezing is 30 to 37 years. At age 38 and older, the quality and quantity of eggs decrease significantly and the rate of taking home a baby with frozen eggs is much lower, around 20%. At age 44 and older, egg donation may be the only option for conceiving. Incorporating social egg freezing into discussions about women’s health can empower women to make informed decisions about their reproductive health, especially in the context of changing social norms and delayed family planning.
2. Early detection of conditions like endometriosis and PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome),
These conditions can significantly impact reproductive health and reproductive outcomes, and early identification allows for timely intervention and management.
One. endometriosisEndometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the inside of the uterus (endometrium) starts growing abnormally outside the uterus as well. For example on or inside the ovaries, fallopian tubes, abdominal organs, lungs, etc. It can cause pelvic pain, irregular menstrual periods and infertility in severe cases. It is a progressive disease as it is linked to the monthly menstrual cycle. Early detection helps in:
- Better management optionsEarly diagnosis allows for the implementation of appropriate treatment plans, which may include pain management strategies, hormonal therapy that temporarily halts disease progression, or in some cases, surgical intervention to remove endometrial implants.
- Preservation of fertilityEndometriosis can cause the formation of adhesions or scar tissue that can affect fertility by interfering with the function of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or uterus. Early intervention can help preserve fertility and improve the chances of successful conception. International guidelines advocate egg freezing in women with moderate to severe endometriosis who wish to postpone pregnancy for a few years.
B. PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome): PCOS is a hormonal disorder, characterized by irregular menstrual cycles, excess androgen (male hormone) levels, obesity in some cases and a different morphology of the ovaries called polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM). It is one of the most common causes of infertility in women. Early detection of PCOS is important because apart from infertility, women with PCOS have a higher risk of developing conditions such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and heart disease (metabolic syndrome). An important part of managing PCOS is lifestyle modification. A balanced diet and physical activity such as aerobic exercise, swimming, cycling, etc. are encouraged to maintain lean body mass. Maintaining a body mass index (BMI 0 around 23.5-24.5) can offset a lot of the harmful effects of PCOS, such as regularizing menstruation, improving fertility, a smooth pregnancy journey, as well as long-term health risks such as diabetes, heart disease, breast and uterine cancer.
3. Breeding plan,
Understanding the impact of PCOS on fertility early on can help women make informed decisions about family planning. If natural conception proves challenging, fertility treatments, such as ovulation induction with medications or assisted reproductive technologies, may be considered.
Finally, the encouraging thing is that Regular health checkups Visiting a gynecologist for check-ups and screenings is the best way to ensure early diagnosis of any health problem that may have the potential to become serious in the future.
4. Future strategies,
Let’s take the solution to the doorstep. Women make up a large proportion of our workforce across all sectors. It would be a good strategy for companies to recruit health counsellors wherever possible as this will greatly improve access to reproductive health information and management.
5. Support Network,
Establishing support groups or online communities where women can share their experiences, seek advice, and receive emotional support regarding fertility challenges related to endometriosis and PCOS would go a long way in improving women’s reproductive health.
Finally, by promoting awareness, advocating for better health care access, and supporting research efforts, we can enhance women’s reproductive outcomes and quality of life.
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