Women
fertility is a subject that has always been surrounded with worry, misconception and societal pressure especially for those women who are said to be on a 'ticking clock.' In a recent conversation, set with an aim to demystify the fear and hush-hush around reproductive health, actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu got into a candid chat and opened up a much-needed dialogue about the connection of fertility and women's age. The conversation was between the actor and Dr. Nozer Sheriar, a respected and well-renowned obstetrician and gynaecologist who highlighted the myths, scientific realities and the number of choices available for women today.
On December 8, Samantha posted a short clip from the interview on her Instagram account and spoke about how fertility often feels scary, confusing and overwhelming and also emphasises on the need for clarity among those who are thinking of conception at a later age. She mentioned that the discussion is especially for women who dream of motherhood but are unsure about the right time to pursue it. She starts the interview by diving right into the first question, "What is the connection between fertility and age?" Is everything, in a way, correlated to your age? Responding to the question. Dr. Sheriar said that, "there is no doubt there is a connection between fertility and age," and continued to explain that women don't need to be pushed or pressured. He also says that, according to him, women should have babies when they want to have babies, not when they have to have babies and that's where Science, work and society has to step up to look after them.
Dr. Sheriar tops up with an interesting scientific insight that sheds light on how and why does age become a talking point in fertility discussions. He points out that a woman's eggs are the only cells in her body that are exactly her age. "Every other cell in her body is replaced regularly every few months," he explained. This cycle happens because eggs age with the woman and they naturally experience a decline in quantity and quality over time. However, he also highlighted the ways in which modern reproductive science is continually evolving to support those women who choose to delay motherhood. The conversation between Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Dr. Nozer Sheriar also stressed a factor that is often ignored when it comes to fertility, the male factor. Dr. Sheriar noted that when one focuses on just the woman it paints an in complete picture/ He also revealed that sperm counts have begun to drop significantly throughout the world and that men are also affected by lifestyle-driven fertility issues. When discussing about conception, he said that medical science must take into consideration both the partners' health.