Is There Something Called ‘The Right Time To Have A Baby’?
Women and their bodies might have very different ideas about having a baby at the right time[1]
Timing Is Key
When it comes to timing, there are numerous factors that come in to play. Maybe, a woman has still not found the right partner yet, or she wants to grow into her profession before taking the ‘baby plunge’. Maybe she needs to concentrate on herself and her health. And since, she knows many women who later became mothers in life, it’s easy to feel that there is plenty of time to take the leap.
Nevertheless, women’s bodies aren’t all the same and while everyone deserves to follow their paths/decide for themselves whether and when to have children, planning for the future always comes in handy.
How A Woman Can Take Control Of Her Fertility
There are a host of factors that come in to play when one talks about conception. One of the most common factor is an age-related decline in the number and quality of egg cells in the ovaries of a woman. Female babies are born with all the egg cells they’re ever going to have. No new egg cells are made during the lifetime. What is different from person to person is how easily ovarian reserve ‘age’ starts diminishing.
A simple blood test may be taken at any time in search of a biomarker known as the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH). The AMH check allows the doctor to determine how many eggs are left, resulting in a decision on the patient’s route forward.
The Power Of Knowing
How can this information help women take charge? Well, for one, she can plan better. Like any other goal, it takes time, effort and planning to start a family. Early intervention means taking necessary action while still having a sufficient ovarian reserve. More time also means a larger window of opportunity to further diagnostic testing, treatment options or next steps available.
On the other hand, the power of knowing that things are on track can be extremely reassuring, giving you a sense of empowerment to make informed decisions.
Preparing for different possibilities gives women the freedom to narrate their own stories, their own way.
References:
- Roche. Let’s Talk Fertility Available from https://www.roche.com/research_and_development/what_we_are_working_on/womens-health/maybe-baby.htm Accessed on [22nd January, 2020]