Can You Really Balance Career and Fertility?
A Gynaecologist’s Take on Modern Parenthood Planning
“I just got that big promotion, I’ll think about kids later.” “I’m still figuring out my life. Is it too early to worry about fertility?” “I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.”
These are common, and completely valid thoughts for today’s professionals. As more men and women prioritise career growth, travel, independence, and financial planning, the idea of parenthood is being delayed. And while this shift is empowering, it also calls for proactive health decisions, especially around fertility.
Let’s rewind the conversation to an earlier, more crucial stage: awareness, screening, and preventive reproductive health. Because in our gynaecology departments, we’re seeing a trend, and we’d like to talk about it.
Promotion vs Parenthood: A Modern Dilemma
You’re building your dream job. You’re moving cities. You’re learning, growing, achieving. Amidst this beautiful chaos, fertility may not seem urgent. But biology, unlike ambition, has its own timeline.
Fertility in women begins to decline in the early 30s, with a more marked drop after 35. For men, sperm quality can also decline with age, stress, poor sleep, and lifestyle factors.
And then there’s the silent interference of medical conditions like:
These aren’t always symptomatic. Many are discovered only when conception becomes difficult.
“We frequently meet women in their late 30s or early 40s who say, ‘I thought I still had time.’ Fertility isn’t something to panic about, but it is something to plan for,” says Dr. Astha Dayal, Leading OBGYN, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram.
According to the Indian Society for Assisted Reproduction (2023), urban fertility issues have increased by 20% over the last decade, driven largely by lifestyle changes, delayed marriage, and hormonal disorders.
One in five women in urban India is estimated to have PCOS, often undiagnosed until they face cycle irregularities or difficulty conceiving. (Source: ICMR-PCOS Task Force Report, 2022)
A study by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine shows that female fertility begins to decline significantly from age 32 and drops steeply after 37.
What About Fertility Preservation?
Here’s the good news: modern science gives you more control than ever before.
If you’re not ready for a family yet, but may want one in the future, egg or sperm freezing can be a proactive step.
“Egg freezing is no longer experimental, it’s a medically validated, safe option for women who want to extend their reproductive timeline without compromising on their career or personal milestones,” explains Dr. Anjali Kumar, Director – Gynaecology, CK Birla Hospital.
For women, the best time to freeze eggs is in the late 20s to early 30s, when egg quality is highest. The process involves hormone stimulation, retrieval of mature eggs, and freezing via vitrification.
For men, sperm freezing is even more straightforward, a single collection can be frozen for years without compromising quality.
“We also recommend fertility preservation for individuals undergoing treatments like chemotherapy, where reproductive function could be at risk,” adds Dr. Kumar.
Fertility preservation doesn’t guarantee a future pregnancy, but it significantly improves your chances, especially if done early.
Not Trying to Conceive Yet? Here’s What You Can Still Do
Taking charge of your reproductive health doesn’t mean putting your career on hold. It means making choices today that keep options open for tomorrow.
Here’s what our gynaecologists recommend for working professionals in their 20s and 30s:
“Fertility care isn’t only about helping someone get pregnant, it’s about understanding the full arc of reproductive health. Even if a woman isn’t ready for a family yet, knowing where she stands gives her control over her choices later,” says Dr. Anjali Kumar.
Career and Parenthood Aren’t Mutually Exclusive
We often hear about the stress of “having it all.” But the real empowerment comes from having a plan, one that supports your professional aspirations without compromising your health.
Gynaecologists today don’t just deliver babies, they help women and couples navigate this journey with clarity, empathy, and science. Whether you decide to start a family early, later, or not at all, your decisions should be based on:
Awareness is Your Strongest Ally
Fertility awareness is not just for couples trying to conceive. It’s for every working woman and man who wants to be intentional about their future, whatever that looks like.
Because your reproductive health is not a future issue, it is a present opportunity to understand, optimise, and plan.
Let’s talk less about treatment and more about timing, testing, and talking to your doctor.
Let’s remind every ambitious professional: It’s not selfish to think ahead. It’s smart.
Because you don’t have to choose between building a future and building a family. You just need the right guidance, at the right time.
Brand Alchemist • Chaos Whisperer • Soul Scout • Thought Twister • I hunt the truths the surface hides! Shikamaru Nara with destiny as my guide.
1moAmbition climbs while biology keeps score! Planning power lies in knowing what's in store.