Monday, Jun 17, 2013, 8:21 IST | Agency: DNA
Desire
to have a high-flying career is leading women in their thirties to
defer pregnancy further by a few more years. The science of predicting
the age at which menopause may set in has helped career-driven women
make an informed decision.
Megha Parekh (name changed), 35, is a mid-level manager with a leading
finance firm in south Mumbai. A few months ago she approached a
gynaecologist and pleaded with the doctor to let her know if she could
delay her pregnancy by another three years. “A lot of patients like
Parekh approach us to ask if their pregnancies can be deferred. Already
in their mid-thirties, they believe that having a baby can decrease
their chances of being promoted as a CEO or to a senior post of that
level,” said Dr Duru Shah, a city gynaecologist.
Doctors are aiding women to make informed decisions by actually predicting the age of menopause and the potential fertility window through newer techniques. Recent scientific advances have led doctors in the city to use a Nomogram to predict the age at which a woman achieves menopause.
“Nomogram combines the current age of the woman to the corresponding levels of
anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) to arrive at a predicted age of menopause,” said Dr Shah.
Parekh’s AMH levels were 0.54 nanograms/milliliter at 35 years. The nomogram predicted that she may achieve menopause at 51 years. Doctors suggested her to not delay her pregnancy by more than a year. She went on to conceive by the time she turned 37.
Experts say that the average age of menopause in Indian women sets in up to five years earlier than their counterparts in the West. “The average age of Indian women achieving menopause is 47 years onward. The ovaries begin deteriorating at least ten years prior to the predicted age of menopause. Nomograms are definitely aiding in predicting a fertility window in which a woman should conceive,” said Dr Shah.
“I get at least 15 women in a month in their thirties who appeal for pushing their pregnancy further by a few more years,” said Dr Anjali Talwalkar of Kurla.
“The trend of getting AMH levels checked for various reasons, including delay of pregnancy, may be increasing. We process at least 40 blood samples for checking ovarian aging through AMH levels in Mumbai everyday,” said Dr Sujata Dhanuka, a pathologist.
Fertile technology
Recent scientific advances have led doctors to use a Nomogram to predict the age at which a woman can achieve menopause.
Research suggests that one in ten women reach menopause before 45 years. The levels of anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) tested in blood, values of which are extrapolated to a woman’s age, would indicate the age at which she is likely to attain menopause. Amongst the women who have low levels of AMH, the fertility window is narrower.
If a woman wants to delay pregnancy beyond 30 years of age she should:
Visit a gynaecologist and get follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2) levels and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) checked two to three days after the menstrual cycle commences to monitor aging of ovaries.
An ultrasound has to be conducted to observe the volume and size of ovaries. An antral follicle count test is also conducted to observe the number of eggs. Ideally, 7-8 eggs in each ovary is considered healthy for a woman to conceive.
Doctors are aiding women to make informed decisions by actually predicting the age of menopause and the potential fertility window through newer techniques. Recent scientific advances have led doctors in the city to use a Nomogram to predict the age at which a woman achieves menopause.
“Nomogram combines the current age of the woman to the corresponding levels of
anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) to arrive at a predicted age of menopause,” said Dr Shah.
Parekh’s AMH levels were 0.54 nanograms/milliliter at 35 years. The nomogram predicted that she may achieve menopause at 51 years. Doctors suggested her to not delay her pregnancy by more than a year. She went on to conceive by the time she turned 37.
Experts say that the average age of menopause in Indian women sets in up to five years earlier than their counterparts in the West. “The average age of Indian women achieving menopause is 47 years onward. The ovaries begin deteriorating at least ten years prior to the predicted age of menopause. Nomograms are definitely aiding in predicting a fertility window in which a woman should conceive,” said Dr Shah.
“I get at least 15 women in a month in their thirties who appeal for pushing their pregnancy further by a few more years,” said Dr Anjali Talwalkar of Kurla.
“The trend of getting AMH levels checked for various reasons, including delay of pregnancy, may be increasing. We process at least 40 blood samples for checking ovarian aging through AMH levels in Mumbai everyday,” said Dr Sujata Dhanuka, a pathologist.
Fertile technology
Recent scientific advances have led doctors to use a Nomogram to predict the age at which a woman can achieve menopause.
Research suggests that one in ten women reach menopause before 45 years. The levels of anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) tested in blood, values of which are extrapolated to a woman’s age, would indicate the age at which she is likely to attain menopause. Amongst the women who have low levels of AMH, the fertility window is narrower.
If a woman wants to delay pregnancy beyond 30 years of age she should:
Visit a gynaecologist and get follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2) levels and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) checked two to three days after the menstrual cycle commences to monitor aging of ovaries.
An ultrasound has to be conducted to observe the volume and size of ovaries. An antral follicle count test is also conducted to observe the number of eggs. Ideally, 7-8 eggs in each ovary is considered healthy for a woman to conceive.
Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/1849068/report-baby-not-now-high-flying-career-is-leading-women-to-defer-pregnancy
