In the high-pressure ecosystem of India’s IT industry, where everything revolves around upgrades, optimization, and the next promotion cycle, personal milestones often get pushed to the margins. As Dr
Parinaaz Parhaar, Regional Medical Head, Oasis Fertility, explains, “Our human body isn’t programmed with corporate timelines.”
While professionals accelerate from one appraisal cycle to the next, parenthood quietly moves to the “later” folder. The corporate ladder never slows down, and years slip by in project deadlines, night shifts, relocations, and constant performance demands, all while fertility continues to operate on an irreversible biological clock. Dr. Parhaar notes that this widening gap between career ambition and biological reality has made delayed conception an increasingly common concern across India’s IT workforce.
Late Marriages, High Pressure, and Lifestyle Strain
According to Dr. Parhaar, many IT professionals marry later due to relocation requirements, erratic working hours, and career uncertainty during their growth phase. This delay, combined with high-pressure work environments, creates a perfect storm for declining reproductive health.
She points out that long desk hours, irregular routines, sedentary lifestyles, chronic stress, disrupted sleep, and excessive reliance on processed foods quietly erode fertility during peak earning years. “Most people don’t realize how deeply their everyday lifestyle interacts with their reproductive system,” she stresses.
How IT Lifestyles Affect Men and Women Differently
Dr. Parhaar highlights that the impact of IT work is gendered as well. For men, prolonged sitting and constant laptop heat exposure can cause hormonal imbalances, reducing sperm count and motility over time.
For women, ongoing stress, sleep deprivation, and fluctuating weight can disrupt ovulation, worsen PCOS tendencies, and reduce overall fertility potential.
Age intensifies these issues. “Fertility starts declining after 30 for women and gradually for men too,” Dr. Parhaar reminds us, “yet many couples in IT begin planning a family only in their mid-to-late thirties.”
The Emotional and Financial Toll of Waiting Too Long
A critical issue, according to Dr. Parhaar, is the assumption that fertility will simply “activate” when the time is right. Biology, however, does not adhere to workplace calendars.
Unexpected delays during fertility treatment can trigger emotional distress, relationship strain, and significant financial pressure, all of which further affect mental health. “By the time many couples seek help, they are already fighting both age and stress,” Dr. Parhaar notes.
Why Workplace Fertility Awareness Matters
To counter this trend, Dr Parhaar strongly advocates for workplace fertility awareness. She believes that even in the pursuit of promotions and career milestones, reproductive health can and should be safeguarded. Simple measures, regular fertility screenings, stress management, staying active, and maintaining a balanced lifestyle can significantly protect one’s fertility window.
Preservation Options: Taking Control of the Biological Clock
Once individuals understand their reproductive health and wish to plan ahead, Dr. Parhaar recommends exploring fertility preservation.
Women can freeze their eggs through oocyte cryopreservation or preserve embryos, while men can freeze sperm. “These techniques offer IT professionals autonomy over their biological timelines,” she emphasizes, giving them flexibility to pursue both career ambitions and future parenthood.
A Choice With Long-Term Consequences
Promotions may bring recognition, titles, and financial gains but as Dr Parhaar cautions, “If reproductive health isn’t prioritized in time, those career wins may subtly replace something far more precious: the opportunity to become a parent.”
