Nagpur: Environmental factors and unhealthy lifestyle are causing the current generation to age prematurely at a biological level. This phenomenon impacts reproductive health too, said Dr Col Pankaj Talwar, president of the Indian Fertility Society (National) in Nagpur on Sunday. Dr Talwar, through his presentation on ‘De-aging: Myths and Reality’, gave a wake-up call. “Young men are experiencing declining sperm count, while women are facing challenges in maintaining their ovarian reserves. As a consequence, numerous married couples, despite being young, grapple with infertility due to their advanced biological age. Their bodies are simply aging faster,” he said. He was speaking at an event organized by the Indian Fertility Society’s Nagpur chapter focusing on “biological aging outpacing chronological aging”. What’s the underlying cause? Dr Talwar delved into the cellular mechanisms behind aging. “Our chromosomes are tightly packed within the cell nucleus. As cells age or are damaged by environmental factors like pollution, chronic stress and addictions like smoking, these chromosomes can become less compact. This allows the cellular machinery to access the genetic information and produce proteins again. While this might seem beneficial, proteins produced from damaged chromosomes can be dysfunctional, lead to cellular malfunction and ultimately contribute to the aging process,” he said.Dr Shweta Mittal Gupta, secretary general of IFS (National), spoke on a related topic ‘Tackling premature ovarian insufficiency’. She emphasized the power of lifestyle changes, stating, “I have examples in which couples get good results within three months after they change their lifestyle. But, initially, it’s difficult for them to change.” Dr Bindu Chimote took over as secretary. Her talk, titled ‘Distress to De-stress in IVF’ addressed the emotional challenges associated with In-Vitro Fertilization. “This critical aspect of the fertility journey is often overlooked. Couples seeking fertility treatment must focus on mental well-being,” she said. “Today’s discussion served as a timely reminder that we have the power to influence our biological age through conscious choices,” said Dr Chaitanya Shembekar, who took over as treasurer.
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