In today’s world progressively it is seen that women are leaving motherhood until later for many diverse reasons. We asked Senior Clinical Embryologist Mrs Alexia Chatziparasidou, Director of Embryolab Fertility Clinic, how today’s women can combine their new social role with parenthood.
Nowadays, the number of women faced with the prospect of childlessness is increasing for many reasons. Today’s women, more than ever, have a more dynamic social role in comparison to the past, through study and seeking economic independence. The priority over their career affects the time needed to find a partner and develop meaningful relationships. Therefore, creating a family is increasingly postponed for the future.
At the same time, social media tends to replace the need for companionship which has developed due to today’s busy lifestyles.
Furthermore, the use of contraception also has its own share of responsibility. It creates, despite its innovative actions, the illusion of absolute control of a woman’s fertility. Scientific data shows that one in five couples experience conception difficulties, and in 40% of these cases, it is a fertility issue affecting women. If we add the age factor to these statistics, then the numbers rise rapidly, given the fact that female fertility is extremely vulnerable as age increases.
In contrast to the above, excessive expectation is pinned on the science of assisted reproduction, which it still currently unable to overcome the stumbling block of increasing age vs the egg’s functional ability.
The effectiveness of an IVF cycle rapidly decreases after the age of 40 and having a child using your own eggs after 45 years of age becomes a much rarer occurrence.
Protection seems to be the wise solution
Fertility protection means creating a family before a woman turns 35 for a higher chance of success. Where this is not feasible, oocyte cryopreservation – otherwise known as egg freezing – in highly fertile age groups offers a safe option.
Since 2005, science has developed egg freezing and this method is now recognized and attested as the only option offered to women to protect their fertility
Egg freezing is an option for women for a variety of reasons, helping those facing significant health issues and about to undergo treatment which could affect fertility and for others who just want to postpone starting a family until they are ready.
Many companies progressively around the globe understand the importance for women to want to work and not lose their chances of having a family.
How many women really are willing to sacrifice motherhood over their career? The contemporary woman, more than ever, wants to have the option to work and fulfil her need to become a mother at the right time for her . . . and this needs both society’s and science’s support.
Alexia Chatziparasidou, Sr. Clinical Embryologist, M.Sc from Embryolab Fertility Clinic
