London: Even though women live longer
than men in most developed countries yet motherhood is
considered appropriate only for the younger ones, a belief
that needs to be changed, a leading Indian expert said here.
"We tend to go by the stereotype that a mother should
be a young person. While young age is an advantage, older
women have an equal right to motherhood," Dr N Pandiyan, chief
consultant in andrology and reproductive medicine at Tamil
Nadu`s Chettinad Hospital said at an International conference
of Gynaecologists here.
150 experts from India, UK and the Middle East
attended the conference that was inaugurated by Lord Winston,
a leading gynaecologist here.
According to Pandiyan, age should not be a barrier for
women who seek motherhood and women who are fit enough to bear
a child should not be discouraged whatever their age be.
"Any woman who is fit enough to go through pregnancy
and childbirth should be offered that opportunity by all
available means. Arguing that she may not live to see her
child through teenage years is specious," he said.
"Many women who were denied motherhood for medical
reasons are now having successful pregnancies and deliveries;
women with kidney diseases, juvenile diabetes, liver or kidney
transplant and more," he said.
Bureau Report