Stressed out!

The fast pace of modern life is taking its toll and its working women who pay the highest price. The tension that comes from trying to co...

The fast pace of modern life is taking its toll and its working women who pay the highest price. The tension that comes from trying to cope with work, household and family responsibilities has obvious consequences on women8217;s health but what few realise is that many tensed-up, over-stretched mothers have a very tough time becoming mothers or, even if gestation and delivery go well, tension and lack of emotional support to the mother obstructs normal lactation.

PGI gynaecologist Dr Kala Vashist cites studies of conception which have shown that persistent high stress levels reduce female fertility. 8220;In other words, some women have a difficult time getting pregnant because they are simply too frazzled. Incidence of natural abortions is on the rise. And when conception does occur, hectic schedules and absence of proper antenatal care, results in a newborn with a dangerously low birth-weight,8221; warns Dr Vashist. Other common complications include jaundice and hypoglycemia when the baby8217;s body lacks glucose reserves. Stress may also be a contributing factor to every mother8217;s nightmare 8230; birth defects.

But not all working women are at risk, doctors assure. Government Medical College and Hospital Gynaecology Department Head Dr Sarla Malhotra says: 8220;It all depends upon the kind of work one is doing and the kind of care the pregnant mother is getting. Women whose occupations require them to work long and irregular hours, or who are exposed to hazardous substances are most likely to experience these difficulties. I would put anaesthesists, nurses, journalists and those working in chemical factories high on the risk-list.8221;

Malhotra goes on to explain that a healthy diet and rest for a bare minimum of two hours during the day, minimises the chances of complications 8230; 8220;but today we see that many working women utterly neglect their diet and continue to push themselves to the limit when they are expecting. The consequences come as no surprise to a doctor.8221;

Change in lifestyle and standard of living are also lowering the age of menarche and pushing back the age of menopause.

Earlier, girls used to experience menstruation at the age of 13 or 14 but we are now seeing reproductive maturity in girls as young as 10 years of age. At the same time, the average age of menopause has risen over the years to 52, some five years later than was the case a few decades ago, says Vashist, crediting improved nutrition and personal hygiene for the rise.

Dr Dinkar Kaw8217;s study of 200 postmenopausal women living in Sectors 14 and 15 of Chandigarh revealed that women in Sector 15 had early menopause as compared to those in Sector 14 where higher awareness of personal hygiene was found.

Story continues below this ad

With the delay in menopause, has come increased risk of endometrial and breast cancer, say doctors. 8220;Both early onset of menstruation and delay in menopause, increase risk of uterine cancer, since there is flow of oestrogen for a longer period of time8221; says Vashist.