“Several women in their late 20s and 30s today are faced with a stressful office environment that requires them to work long hours and in shifts. Women then are often left with no choice but to plough through the day in a ‘time-bomb’ like pressure of a professional and personal life. This gnaws at the mental and emotional resilience of any person, leaving them tense, irritated and edgy. Erratic and late night shifts can raise a woman’s risk of menstrual and fertility problems. Studies have also indicated that late shifts may increase the chances of a miscarriage. Women are opting to conceive after the age of 35, doctors note that most common cause of age-related decline in fertility is less frequent ovulation. As women age, they begin to have occasional cycles where an egg is never released. Egg quality and quantity also declines in a woman’s 30s and 40s. Stress brought on by irregular and long work hours, putting off natural pregnancy and bad lifestyle is playing havoc with young women. Stress, accompanied by unhealthy lifestyle, is known to cause high blood pressure and diabetes. We are seeing a rise in cases of polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS], which can affect a woman’s hormone levels, periods, and ovulation and interfere with natural pregnancy.” -senior infertility specialist Dr. Priyamvada