Ovarian failure now seen among those in 20s: Docs

Ovarian failure now seen among those in 20s: Docs

Amrita.Didyala@timesofindia.com 28.12.2024

Hyderabad : There has been an increase in number of cases of early ovarian failure, where nearcomplete loss of ovarian reserve occurs as early as 25 years of age, say gynaecologists. While the exact reason for this is not known, experts say that a variety of factors like lifestyle, environmental factors, and late marriages are contributors. 

“Women are born with a limited number of eggs (about 2 million) at birth, and with age, the reserve (number of eggs) goes down. From the age of 30 years, there is a rapid reduction in the reserve (10-15% every 5 years), which means that by 40, many women will have low reserves,” said Dr Preethi Reddy, Consultant Fertility Specialist at Birthright Rainbow. However, describing a new trend, she said “there are now many cases of reduced reserves in women in their 20s too. About 30% of the women who come to us seek fertility treatment because they already have problems in conceiving having reduced reserves even between 25 and 33 years.” 

Pointed out another reason, Dr Patllola Rajini Reddy, superintendent at Petlaburj govt maternity hospital, said early menarche (onset of menstruation) could be a contributing factor. “In recent times, we have seen two such cases of extremely low ovarian reserve in young girls. Ovarian reserve in women is depleting quicker due to quicker ovulating. Unlike earlier, when girls matured at the age of 15-16 years, now they are maturing as early as 8-11 years of age, starting the ovulation process much earlier,” she said. With many of these cases coming to light in recent times, experts suggest that ha ving knowledge of one's fertility status in one’s 20s is important. “Cases of diminished ovarian reserve in young women, even as young as their early 20s, are increasingly recognised. These are often detected during investigations of menstrual irregularities or fertility planning. 

In unmarried patients, egg freezing offers an effective strategy for preserving future fertility, providing hope and flexibility. We emphasise fertility preservation options like oocyte cryopreservation, ensuring their future reproductive potential is safeguarded while they explore other milestones,” said Dr Parinaz Parhar, regional medical head at Oasis Fertility.