When young people are afraid to have children: 'Fear of not having enough conditions, fear of disrupting life'

"My husband and I both have stable jobs, but thinking about having children makes us worried because we don't have a house yet, our finances are not stable, and our grandparents live far away and can't help...", Ms. Dieu Linh shared.

Similarly, Ms. Anh Thu (30 years old, in Long Binh ward, Ho Chi Minh City) said that many of her friends who have been married for 3-4 years still do not want to have children. Partly because they are striving for their careers, partly because they are afraid of disrupting their lives when they see their older siblings struggling with the situation of carrying their children, diapers, milk...

Or like Ms. Thu Hien (26 years old, in Ho Chi Minh City) said, she and her boyfriend had stable jobs right after graduating. They have been in love for nearly 8 years but have not thought about getting married.

"After getting married, parents on both sides often crave having grandchildren, while I feel my current life is very good. Working, dating, traveling , very free and comfortable. Seeing the lives of my colleagues with husbands and children, I feel so hard," Ms. Hien shared.

PHOTO: NVCC

The concerns of Ms. Linh, Thu or Hien are not uncommon among many young people today. According to obstetricians, getting married late, being afraid of having children, and delaying parenthood are gradually becoming a trend, especially in big cities.

Why do young people delay having children?

Experts say that the common reasons why women or young couples hesitate to have children come from many sides.

Associate Professor - Doctor Do Van Dung, former Vice Principal of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, said that nowadays, material and spiritual life is better, so many young people are more interested in their careers and enjoy life more. The second reason is that nowadays, owning a house is more difficult, and housing standards for children are also higher. Therefore, many young people hesitate to have children, waiting for a stable house before considering having children.

According to Dr. Nguyen Viet Duc, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xuyen A Long An Hospital, women today are more educated and have greater career ambitions, leading to marriage and childbirth often being delayed. In addition, the cost of raising children is increasingly expensive, making many couples "afraid" to think about becoming parents.

"The development of medicine, modern contraceptive methods and assisted reproductive techniques make many people feel secure... it can be done later. Many young people are "overwhelmed" with conflicting information about giving birth and raising children on social networks, which leads to anxiety or delay," Dr. Duc shared.

ILLUSTRATION: AI

Late marriage - a factor contributing to increased infertility

According to Dr. Bui Chi Thuong, Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Gia Dinh People's Hospital, late marriage and childbirth are one of the main causes of the increasing infertility rate.

"Late marriage can lead to higher infertility rates because ovarian reserves decrease, uterine diseases increase, especially diseases related to blocked fallopian tubes," said Dr. Thuong.

Sharing the same view, Dr. Nguyen Viet Duc said that biologically, after the age of 30, especially after the age of 35, the quality and quantity of eggs decline significantly. In men, sperm quality also begins to decline after the age of 40.

The risk of reproductive diseases also increases with age. Women are susceptible to diseases such as uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and blocked fallopian tubes, while men may experience problems such as varicocele and hormonal disorders.

Psychological pressure and modern lifestyle (staying up late, stress, poor nutrition, lack of exercise, etc.) also affect the ability to conceive.

"It is estimated that about 7-10% of couples of reproductive age in Vietnam have infertility problems. Notably, 30-40% of cases come to the clinic after 1-3 years of marriage but still have no children, most of them are over 35 years old," Dr. Duc shared. (To be continued).