Advanced Maternal Age (AMA), previously called 'geriatric pregnancy,' refers to pregnancy in women aged 35 or older, where healthcare providers offer additional monitoring and screening but this does not automatically mean high-risk pregnancy. While biological factors like reduced ovarian reserve and increased chromosomal abnormalities (miscarriage rates rise from 9% at ages 20-30 to 20% at 35 and over 40% at 40) create real health implications, modern environmental factors including poor diet, stress, pollution, and lifestyle choices significantly impact fertility. The key message is that there is no perfect age to become a parent—women should focus on overall health, mental well-being, and supportive relationships rather than societal pressures, and seek proper medical testing and counseling when facing fertility challenges.
Pregnancy After 35: What You Need To KnowAdded:
you're 36 years old. Healthcare has its own language and sometimes that language is wildly out of step with reality. So, if you've been called a geriatric pregnancy, let's talk about what that actually means because yes, it is still a real term and it's still used in real charts for anyone pregnant at 35 or older. Now, let me tell you, I just barely escaped this one with my second.
I turned 35 the month after he was born.
Now, the more recent version of this is advanced maternal age, AMA, a little more neutral, I guess. So, here's what it actually means in practice. Your provider will offer additional monitoring and screening. And that's it.
That's the whole definition. It does not automatically mean you are high- risk.
It means the medical system draws a line at 35 and starts watching more closely.
Right now, more babies in the US are being born to women in their 30s than any other age group. 1.1 million births last year. And the only age group that actually saw birth rates go up in 2024 was women over 40. So geriatric is the word the medical system is still using for the most common version of motherhood happening right now. Save this video, share it with somebody else who might benefit, and don't forget to follow.
>> Okay, so that is what we're talking about today right here on Wellness Wednesday. Karibana to the show. how you doing? I hope that you're well. I hope that you're keeping warm cuz the weather has decided where it's it's going to be chilly. Um, but the conversation today right here on your world, I think this is a conversation that I don't want to say personal, but also personal, but also is personal for so many women out there. And this is as far as pregnancy is concerned, but not just pregnancy, but pregnancy after 35. And the term that we used to use is geriatric pregnancy. And I think I'm one of those people who are still in denial like what do you mean geriatric? See geriatric is like 50 plus 60 plus. No, it's after 35.
Okay. And now we actually calling it advanced maternal age or that is the term that is being used now. Advanced maternal age which again is referred to pregnancy and this is after 35. So today on the show like we've had a lot of the times there's a lot of things that is being said as far as pregnancy and women and now more women are focused on their careers and they're choosing you know these are the things that pregnancy and motherhood you know takes takes a back burner but really is that the case is the case for so many women so today we really going to explore the realities the myths and the opportunities and the challenges associated with pregnancy beyond the age of 35 and we'll discuss fertility maternal health emotional wellbeing, family planning and hear from, you know, potentially the women who have experienced this. So, if you are a woman who's watching us and probably you got your baby after the age of 35, your first child, since second born, I'm a third born, your first child after the age of 35, please let us know at NTV Kenya across the digital platforms as well as our WhatsApp number uh which will be down on your screen in just a second. Yes, the conversation today is on advanced maternal age and we're looking at understanding pregnancy beyond the age of 35 and today the panel is full of men and I know you might ask so where are the women exactly? We are here Cindio women and we are learning okay today. So today we take the stage and we just want to learn um as women before I introduce my guest this morning. We have a question for you and if we have the question ready Philip um the question that we're asking you this morning is very simple. Do you believe that there is a perfect time to become a parent or do we simply make the best of the season that we are in? So it's two parts to that question. The first part is do you believe there is um a perfect time to become a parent or the second part to that question is do we simply make the best of the season that we are in like [music] I said at NTV Kenya across all bodies how you can reach us and help us really know where you sit or where you know what you think about um the whole conversation on pregnancy after [music] the age of 35. So my guests are already here and like I said this is a panel full of men men who are experts in their fields and they're here to help us and I'm just going to start on my immediate right and we have Dr. Kiki Omanuel who is not a new piece okay right here on your wall he's been here before but he is back and Dr. Kirki is a consultant obstitrician gynecologist. He is also a fertility specialist and also the president of the Kenya obstetrical and gynecological society. And of course he will provide the expert medical insights on pregnancy and fertility beyond 35. Good to see you Dr. Thank you so much for making the time. I'm tempted to say happy new year but I saw you in March but it's so good to see you again.
Karim Bada and next to Dr. Ki we have Dr. Richard Sandingo as well. not a new face right here on your world and he is a naturopath and he will help us really understand lifestyle, nutrition and holistic wellness approaches that can support maternal health. Good to see you Dr. Harry. Thank you so much for making the time. The last time you here was your birthday.
>> Yes, it was. Yes, [laughter] it was.
Yeah.
>> I'm trying to ask how is the new year?
How is everything unfolding?
>> Well, you know, it feels a little um I feel a little older.
>> Okay. Okay. So, but it's good. Thank God for um another ticket.
>> Yes.
>> Yeah. So, turning 60 was pretty good.
>> A big big. Yeah. It's a very very big step. I see that. All right. And of course, last but not least, we have Cleoper who's a counseling psychologist and founder of Viva Mind Solutions Limited and he will help us really understand emotional and psychological aspects of pregnancy later in life.
Busan, it's so good to see you as well.
The last time you here, you said, you know, more people are embracing counseling and therapy, which is really good to hear. And I'm also curious to hear your insights as far as the conversation today because it comes with a lot of things, the society, you know, and the societal pressure, but also sometimes that internal pressure that he 35, you know, a little one who's running around and crying around. So, it's really really important to have you. Um, but Dr. Can we just first of all unpack geriatric because like I said more like three or four women are in my inki when do you mean geriatric 35 us still children we're still babies can we just first of all start with that understanding geriatrics >> thank you thank you very much for inviting me to the studio and also inviting inviting my colleagues to the studio to talk about this very important topic >> actually this is one of the reasons especially when we are talking about infertility and I'm teaching about infertility >> to our students at the University of Nairobi and elsewhere.
>> When we look at >> the causes of infertility >> um among the top ones is age.
>> Okay.
>> And then they ask why age >> and then I talk to them. I say look by the time you come to university for your medical school >> you're about 19 years 18 19 years >> takes six years to to do your uh your degree. M >> so by the time you finish your undergraduate course you are about 24 maybe 25 years >> you need to do one year of internship so you're about 25 26 years >> now before you come back for your master's degree >> um you need to do at least 2 years of work out there you gain some experience >> so around 28 27 28 >> um in the course of your undergraduate studies is >> um you may find a gentleman who has looked at you and um thinks that you are the right person. father.
>> So the young man could be most of the time he's a classmate >> so tries to hit on you, tries to talk, you know, sweetly to you, but you look at [laughter] [laughter] actually don't go along with the vibe of these gentlemen >> and they usually go to other places.
They can go to nursing school for example the school of law they get somebody there and they get married. So by the time most of the time starting the internship or soon after they already married so around 28 to 29 and there if everything is okay >> meanwhile you as a lady you are thinking about how much your father has invested in you >> to go to medical school and so on. So by the time you come back now for master's uh from master's degree you are around 30 29 30 >> the gentleman whom you didn't want to hear his vine [snorts] you could not see his vision he already has one baby >> okay >> so um medical school postgraduate takes about 4 years >> so if you came in at 29 or 30 you're already around 33 34 >> you finish at 34 >> the guys who were hitting on you at that time >> they moved on.
>> They went and got married and they already have one maybe two children.
>> Meanwhile, you are focused on um on that you know I must be a doctor. I must be you know this. I must get to the top of you know of the corporate ladder as it were. M >> so by the time you finish your postgraduate degree and you need to work two more years before you become recognized as um a consultant >> um you're around 35 36 >> 37 maybe you're already my client >> up to Yori [laughter] >> and we don't and we don't want him to be our client.
>> Yeah. So the guys who now really wanted you >> have two children >> or maybe others even have three.
>> Meanwhile now you start looking around and I have examples of colleagues who are actually >> consultants.
>> They really tried you know the focus was there but then when they realized they want to have a family >> it is too late.
>> They gent the good gentleman. So what I tell them is look don't look for the good one. Mr. Right. You may not find Mr. Right.
>> Find Mr. left and pull him to the right.
>> It is possible.
>> Okay. [laughter] >> The other thing that um they may think about is basically to maybe get their eggs >> and freeze them [music] and we can do that.
>> Yeah.
>> Now when we think about geriatric geriatric geriatric >> that is scary. It is scary because you're thinking about um this old lady in a walking stick you know with trembling hands uh you know with an earing aid.
>> Technically it is possible we can do that but that is not the appropriate time to have to have that baby. There are so many [clears throat] things that have happened to your body aging and when aging starts every part of the body ages. I see >> the ovaries age, the the skin starts sagging, you know, um and so on and um your hormone levels are not where they were supposed to be.
>> So getting a baby at that age over 35, 35 plus has a lot of um health implications not only on the patient >> but also on that baby who's being carried.
>> Okay, we'll come back and and unpack more on the theme. Um but Dr. Understanding I want to hear from you as well. 35. Okay.
>> No. Who's my client? [laughter] >> Yes. Who is your client?
>> The frustrated ones. They've gone through and they've gone through the grind.
They've achieved what they want, but they can't get a child that time.
>> Well, uh let's go back to the ba the basics of uh the anatomy and physiology of the human body, >> okay?
>> 20 years ago and today's people are very very different. Why?
Uh the change is first of all [clears throat] >> groundwork. We are what we are. What we eat is what we are.
>> Mhm.
>> Um what you ingest becomes really what is internal.
>> Um many years ago people ate healthy.
>> Yeah.
>> The rat race was not as real as it is today.
>> Uh the stress levels were not as much.
>> Pollution was not as much. And so uh pretty much your environment was healthy and you ate healthy and the food and the water and everything else around you is not as toxic as as it is today.
>> Today we have too many heavy metals. We have too many toxic uh chemicals flying around in manufacturing and all that.
Um, we're trying to make it easy for you to carry food inside [snorts] the car and eat on the go and you know >> I've talked about that so much here >> and um your building blocks have become very unhealthy >> and nobody's telling you about it. All you're chasing is that thing called career. You're chasing life. You're chasing success.
>> Forgetting that success is also supposed to be internal. Mhm.
>> It's supposed [clears throat] to be healthwise and lifestyle.
>> Now, we start aging very quickly.
>> Okay.
>> Um people start uh uh looking 60 while you're actually 30.
>> Where it's supposed to be the other way around. You need to be looking 35 when you are 60.
>> Yeah.
>> Why? Because of what you are eating. And so therefore when this young ladies I would say young ladies because you're 35 you still qualify for the youth fund >> right?
>> Yeah we're still youth [laughter] >> up to the den not geriatric [laughter] >> still qualify for for that funding.
>> So um what we do and I've helped quite a number quite a number across the board.
It could be military. I have a few military ladies who who sought my my services at 45, 49 even.
>> Um or high-end career diplomacy and and consulting, doctors and stuff.
>> And we've got go back to the basics and try and put you back on a very very rich diet and change your lifestyle, your thought process. And I guess my colleague here will talk about the mental >> uh um placement.
>> Okay.
>> Such that you're able to re >> um [clears throat] reconstruct your >> your your chemistry.
>> Okay. And so therefore, as much as your your ovules have been bombarded with all this and you you're already suffering from picos somewhat, you already having issues with hormonal imbalances and the rest of it.
>> You can now re manufacture, >> restructure, you bring in the different missing links into your anatomy, >> a reset >> and then it happens. And once it does, uh, we try and we we try and and and and tailor your lifestyle and make sure that you come back to that setting where the body is really ready for that. And not only for that, even for the younger women, when you know that you want to get pregnant, it's always easier and better >> to focus on what you're eating through uh at least 3 4 months before you you conceive.
>> You that baby is going to be healthier than the one that is not going to be to found out 3 months later or four months later that you're pregnant.
Go on a break. So what you what's what you're saying is the age thing is real.
>> The age thing is real. The age thing is real. I must confess during my 30ome practice now in in out of this country >> uh older women is a little more difficult to get pregnant but it is possible to reverse that. Okay.
>> If if it's not a very serious prominent infertility situation >> issue. Okay. Let's take a break and then when we come back we really then unpack that the 35 and why is it such an important milestone for all the women to consider because there's that thing called age is just but a number.
Sometimes it is not. It is not just that number. There's so many realities that come with it. Okay. And we're looking at pregnancy in this case today right here on your world. So the question [music] that we're asking you today is pretty much simple but you know it needs a little bit of honesty. Okay. and we're asking you, do you believe there is ever a perfect time to become a parent? We've shortened it to become it easier for you. Okay? So, do you believe there is ever a perfect time to become a parent is what we're [music] asking you at MTV Kenya on our digital platforms as well as our WhatsApp number is uh the way to reach us, okay? We'll come back, go through your feedback after the break.
So, do stay with us.
I'm 36 years old and pregnant. Why did my OB call me geriatric? It feels like a curse word. So, we're not using that word anymore. We're going to say advanced maternal aid. But knowing I'm considered advanced maternal age just makes it feel like there's something already wrong with me. What' you say? I got you making it spicy. I'm working on it. I could not have been more prepared.
Like this feels like the ultimate time to have a kid. My husband and I are in a financially stable position where we can afford to have a kid and like raise the kid how we want. I always thought I wanted kids in my mid20s. So if I actually did have kids in my mid20s, it would have been a struggle. And look, I know people do it every day. So I'm not saying it's impossible by any means.
That's not what I'm saying. What I am saying is that if I have a choice and like if I got to cherrypick every little detail of my life to be in a financially secure and stable position when I have kids is the of course the ultimate wish.
Second of all, I'm ready to sit my butt down. My days literally just look like me at home watching TV. Sometimes I'll sit outside on my porch drinking tea and like that's it. A lot of my friends already have kids. I can get all the tips and tricks from them about what worked, what didn't work, what they did and wouldn't do again. With that being said, I also have a lot of patience.
like literally just to keep them alive.
It requires a lot of your attention. It requires a lot of your time. I have that time to give now. I'm not still chasing a career. I'm not recovering from student loan debt. I'm not doing all the things that I would have been doing 10 years ago. My husband knows how important it is for me to be around family in general. How much we would need that support once our kids were here. So, what did he do? He bought us a house that is in the same exact neighborhood as my parents. Like, I literally can look out the window. I'm not being dramatic. I'm not going to show you guys cuz I don't want y'all to know where we live. But I'm looking out the window right now and I see my parents' house. We are going to need a village. It takes a village to raise children. I'm so close with my parents and all my siblings. There's five kids.
All of us are so close and live within 20 minutes from each other and very much like present in each other's lives. So yes, we we set it up so that whenever we need help and vice versa, if my family ever needs anything, we are right here.
I would have never even thought of that in my mid20s. I would have never even thought that I needed that. But like we've gotten to learn from the experience of other people how much the support can make or break honestly some people when it comes to having kids.
There's a lot more. But I am having a really hard time talking and eating. And right now I really need to eat this while it's still hot or else I'm going be really sad about it. So I might have a part two later and I'm going to go watch TV Indian style on the floor. Bye.
They called all of my pregnancies geriatric because I want to start having babies at 35 years old. Now I'm 43. We have four babies. But this is what nobody tells you when you are pregnant later in life. So you are more wiser, not weaker. You are going to take more test which means more waiting and causes more fear. But you stop apologizing for how long it took. And you just feel everything more deeper and more intentionally. So you are not late. You are on your timeline. [music] you are on your timeline and that is one of the things the most commonest things that we have heard actually women being told but then again on the flip side there's also the reality and like we have heard from the first part of the conversation before we went on a break the age thing is very real okay so for all the women out there who are thinking about settling down and having a family age is such an important thing for you to consider but then again with age there's also a lot of other things in our surroundings in our environment both external and internal that might impact our lives one way or the other that might delay um you know the process as far as getting pregnant and we find ourselves beyond 35 and we do not want to use that term geriatrics because like I keep saying that term is very scary so we're using advanced maternal age okay and this is pregnancy up to the age of 35 and the question that we're asking you this morning is um pretty much simple needs a little bit of honesty as well for the women who are watching us please let us know and even for the men as well. Do you believe there is ever a perfect time to become a parent? Is there you know a perfect time or do you believe that there's ever uh a perfect time to become a parent? That is the question that we're asking you this morning at NTP Kenya across all board but also use our WhatsApp number. But speaking about WhatsApp number, we have a question. So can we go through the question and then we'll come to Cleopatra to really understand the pressures and the stress and everything else and and how do we deal with it. Um so the okay the question of the day is do you believe there is ever a perfect time to become a parent but is there can we go through the question um so this one says um hi I really like to get a baby I have been married for seven years and I had surgery uh on one of my testicle was removed um and I've and removed have come that I need to get okay they want to get a baby so the question is they've tried with the gynecologist but are still praying for help okay gynecologist It's just a urologist there. The urologist is the guide for the men. We'll tackle that. Um you know because this is a question I think from the men which is which is actually a a good thing. We'll tackle that. But can we hear from you um Cleoper because like we said there's there's a lot of conversation around 35.
First of all even 30 but today the focus is on 35. Um there's there's a lot of other things that a woman would want to either prepare for or get ready for. and then 35 he so can we just talk about that in itself the age the big age and then there's no little one running around and whatn not can we just talk about the stress and everything else that he can bring about >> allow me to start with a small story about myself >> okay >> growing up as a small boy >> my mother used to give me some firewood >> some food >> to take to my great grandmother >> okay >> there was my my grandfather my grandmother mother and greatgrandfather mother.
>> Okay.
>> And every time as a kiku you catch her, anytime I send some firewood, she could do like this >> and bless me.
>> And it was such a beautiful thing.
>> Yeah.
>> It's only when I was old enough, >> I was informed.
>> She was not our biological greatgrandfather.
She had no child.
>> Okay.
>> And the community and accepted her, >> okay? and she lived with all of us >> and we gave her all the respect.
>> Okay.
>> So that's my studying. I hope anyone can get what I'm about to say.
>> Yes.
>> Then when I was mature, >> I did a course for 2 years >> of beings ouration method.
>> Okay. That's why this subject it has my heart >> very close >> because at a young age >> I was able to support couples >> who wanted to conceive >> and who sometimes could not conceive >> and there was so much that was going on >> now as the founder >> and senior lead psychologist >> at Vivamite >> the people who are coming to us now for therapy >> they have tried everything else but somehow finally they come to to us >> when already they have been s suffering silently.
>> Okay. And now I want to come back to where we started >> because there are reasons why someone will stay without a kid in the normal age that many people think that's when people should have kids like between 21 to 29. That's what now they expect to have kids. But you'll find someone at 35 they made a choice personal choice that for me I would want to do one two three >> with their own conscience >> others because of circumstances like infertility and all that >> others because of the relationships challenges we are having. So they are the people who are coming to us and when they come to us they are coming presenting some with anxiety, depression and all that because the society >> instead of compassion >> even in the way we are talking >> we are judging. Okay, >> we are not supporting >> the village, >> the parents instead of trying to find out or even supporting their daughters, their sons, we are coming with judgment.
But there is hope now because as psychologists we are going deeper into what does science say? Okay.
>> The first thing is whatever situation you have find yourself in for whatever reason you are still human >> and you have a purpose and you have a meaning in life. It's only for you to change >> the way you think.
>> So we are able to separate our emotions of sadness, anxiety which is brought about by the expectations of the society, we will still live a good life.
And going to my story, life is not about whether you have a child or not. But catch expectations of the people, pressures they tell us. But the reality is it every person, every human being would be happy to be a mother or for man to be a father. And so if that does not happen then silently you are walking you are working as a corporate person but inside when you go to bed you are already feeling something >> and then the pressure would come again when people and allow me to say this because sometimes in rows >> relatives even the church >> we want to go into the business that is not ours. We are going directed to start asking people >> we are waiting for a baby why are you not >> so you form a triangle >> and instead of reducing the tension you increase the tension and that's why we are having so many cases of mental health issues in Kenya >> there is a survey that was done another day that in every four people who go to see our doctors one of them has got a mental illness which is not diagonized or treated. Some of the few reasons could be this one and the best thing for you inviting us is for people to start knowing the reality >> because at that age 40 years ago 1986 that's when I started understanding fertility >> and that it doesn't sometimes depend with age >> like now puberty many people would expect young boys and girls all of us is like a watch >> by the time we are 12 years >> our body start Then the hormones start then the production of sperms but that's not the case. You'll find as early as 9 10 slowly we may not see anything fertility has started >> and some may wait up to 17 the rate matur. So we don't have that kind of biological clock for our human bodies >> the way we are unique some are big some are short that the same thing even with our systems. So if that age of fertility no one can say you start having your periods as the age of 13 14 15 you'll start at your own time your unique time and you are still a person you are still a human being you have an identity you are worthy the same thing also with after 30 >> if you have kept yourself well you are eating well and all that then even at 35 40 there are some people who biologically they are still themselves but then we have to also understand the reality like Dr. Saint there is that reality of we go through phases but then at what point >> do you have a child let us allow people to make their choices let us not get into other people's business and yourself also don't listen to those voices come to us so that we can help you ch your beliefs >> because we are getting sadness, we are getting anxiety, depression because of the beliefs that are inside us also not being able to separate our emotions versus our thoughts.
>> We'll come to that in a second. But you see that the reality is and like I said the we've seen a lot of things happening online in terms of what we're told and and even what you're saying which is which is important. Forget all the noise, okay? you focus on what is important to you as a person. But then again, there's there's also the reality of age is a thing. I am one of those people like well listen age is not but um that is the reality right and and there's a lot of people who are struggling with with um with understanding first of all what exactly does pregnancy look like?
Like let's forget everything else that we have had. Let's understand pregnancy at 35 and after 35. What exactly >> does it look like? Why why is it such an important thing that even when we go to see a gynecologist, they're like sister, you know, you you you're special. We need to treat you in a certain way because you're delicate. Can we just understand the reality of pregnancy after 35? I think let me just add one or two things about what um Clarifa has mentioned about the physiology >> of um of our bodies and especially we're talking about ladies the physiology of the of the female body >> yes um in the past the short past time past >> um ladies used to have their periods around 14 15 16 but we have seen that age you know sort of coming down a little bit >> most of the I'm uh when I talk to patients the first question I ask them is when was your first period okay >> say I can't remember which class were you in usually it's about standard seven standard eight >> around 13 14 15 however we still see a few of them who start their periods maybe around 10 11 years you know rarely do we see nine but they they are still there >> what he had mentioned about um nutrition is very important we eating foods which are modulating lers of what we call estrogens. So you find that um that um what you call the HPO axis starts working a little bit earlier than before. So you find their children who are 11 years but they've started sprouting breasts um who are 13 years and so on. And then again culturally there are some cultures that as soon as breasts have started sprouting you've had your first period you're supposed to be getting getting married. So actually that is that is that is that is not okay.
>> Now you're asking about pregnancy. What actually happens in pregnancy >> when in a 35 year plus lady? Remember that in order for a woman to get pregnant she must have a period she must have a cycle. I will say that with a caveat because we are also treating ladies who are more than 40 who have no periods but we still through IVF we still help them to get to get pregnant but by and large you must have a period why must you have a period because that period when you have that period day one or day two it means that you're starting a new cycle >> and it's a very intricate pattern because the brain there's a certain center in the brain called the pituitary gland which sends messages to the ovaries and tells them >> get ready start you know stimulating um the dominant eggs such that like just like the Bible says many are called but few are few are chosen so many follicles are woken up as it were and out of those follicles you may find a follicle is what carries an egg >> so you'll find maybe two or three are the ones which will continue growing but ultimately it's only one what you call the dominant follicle >> which will have an egg in it is the one which will continue growing >> as it is growing it will be releasing a hormone called estradile [snorts] >> estradile works on the lining of the womb so making it ready accumulating glucose and other stuff which the embryo which is the beginning of a baby is actually going to use once it has implanted >> now um ovulation time occurs at around day 9 day 11 12 of the cycle depending on the length of the cycle.
>> Once ovulation has occurred the the egg is released and that egg is picked up by the by the tube >> and um if you can say that my hand is a tube and at the end here we have what we call fimri which are fingerlike projections. They pick that egg and push it into the tube where it is supposed to meet with the sperms.
Now during uh intercourse huge amount of a large number of sperms if the man is okay because again that is also another issue together that's another issue together if the man is okay he releases a huge amount of sperms let's say let's work with 100 million so he releases 100 million and by the way that ejaculate is less than half a teaspoon >> all that work for half a teaspoon full of whatever but be it as it M those [laughter] 100 million sperms which are released they swim through the cervix and the cervix is the opening of the womb what connects the womb the vagina and the womb they swim through the cervix they swim through into into the womb and they actually directed >> this month >> because they can go and say now where do we go but nature is very intricate and knows exactly which they're going to. So they swim and ideally they swim around the egg and one of them drills a small hole, gets inside and that's it. They know. So fertilization occurs. Now once fertilization occurs, >> the process from fertilization where the egg was fertilized until it gets to the lining of the womb which is ready takes about 5 days.
>> Okay. as that embryo because that embryo now the beginning of the baby is traveling to the womb it is dividing >> now every cell of that embryo has exactly the same material DNA material >> now as it is dividing those cells are being you know ch not really channeled but the there's a decision >> you will be the eyes you will be the legs and as it's saying you will be the It says which partner will it be mama? All this information is actually happening at that time and then it implants into the womb and the baby starts growing.
>> Now what happens when we are older 35 years or or older >> remember we started our periods this young lady young lady they all young ladies are all young.
>> Yes. [laughter] >> Yes. Very young.
there. She starts her her periods at around 13 years.
>> And every month that she has a cycle, she loses some eggs, >> a certain number of eggs. Remember, they come equipped self-contained for the whole of their lives. By the time they start their periods, it is approximated that they have about 400 500,000 eggs.
And every month from the the 13th year when she started her periods, she's now 35. So these are 22 years of losing eggs every month which have not been made use of.
>> Now >> the store of eggs what you call the ovarian reserve at 35 has reduced.
>> And remember we are aging.
>> Yeah. Like my my my my colleague here said as we are aging even the eggs and the genetic material which is the DNA is also aging.
>> What does that mean? Number one the number of egg has reduced. Number two the genetic material is is aging and as it's aging it actually gets denatured or destroyed in a way is micro micro fragments but it will have an effect later on. Now remember if a lady between 20 and 30 years of age when they get pregnant we see unfortunately a lot of miscarriages >> around 20 to 30 30 years of age the miscarriage rate is about 9%.
>> 35 ina 20% so it has increased when we get to 40 the miscarriage rate is over 40%. When you get to 45 and above, then it is also a lot higher, higher. It even gets more difficult at 45 years. Trying to get pregnant using your own eggs for the first time, it's less than 1%.
>> Geriatric medicine, good mod.
But [laughter] pregnancy.
>> Now, apart from the miscarriages that are higher with age, there are other issues which come along. the prematurity rates are also higher.
>> High. Yeah.
>> Um the rate still birth rates are also higher. um preeacclampsia whereby the blood pressure increases after you know around the second trimester is also a lot higher in the extremes of ages that one the young lady of 35 and above and then the extremely young ladies about 13 14 15 16 where unfortunately in Kenya we have about 240 250,000 teenagers getting pregnant in that age they have no business actually getting pregnant Now apart from that um gestational diabetes is also a lot higher in these in these ladies. Now what do we do? Um in one of the clips they said you know my OBGYN said we need to have a closer look at these pregnancies. It is true we need to have a closer look.
>> Ideally what we should do because you remember about the aging of the DNA material. Now the embryos that are created without you know without those oldish eggs as it were >> these ladies tend to have babies with a lot of chromosomeal problems down syndrome increases and other syndromes also increase so what we can do for them >> can do we come back would also want to understand because Dr. Nigo, you talked about the the changes that happened which is very real but also the environmental factors and also our lifestyle. So is there a way that we can prepare the body then for pregnancy you know after after 35. Let's hear what you guys have to say on our WhatsApp number >> [music] >> um as well as the digital platforms but the WhatsApp number is um is quite ready. Um, so this one says, "Hello, NTV. This [music] is Kenotei. Uh, Friday from Tanakani says, "There's really no universal perfect age to have children, but I believe having them earlier in adulthood has advantages. You have more energy to raise them, support their education, and help them become [music] independent while you're still active and productive. By the time you're in your 50s and 60s, your children are likely to be self-reliant adults, reducing the financial and parenting pressures that come with raising young children later in life. Okay, this one says, "I'm enjoying the show. Very good and well informing topic." And then um do we have another one? This one says, "Hello, doc. I have been using uh 3 months for family planning and I also stopped using it in at in November. I'm receiving my period, but I have not conceived what might be the problem.
Okay, let's take a break and then when we come back, we'll answer more of your questions, look at your concerns as well. Um, so there's so much to come on the other side. Do stay with us.
Welcome back. Welcome back to the show.
Glad you're still with us. As we're panicking here thinking who is messing with the time cuz time flies and there's so much that we need to cover on the conversation today on advanced maternal age and we're looking at understanding pregnancy beyond the age of 35. So we've looked at the different factors that again might lead to a woman getting to 35 plus and not have a child. We've looked at the reality of what pregnancy at 35 looks like and the risks that come with it. But Dr. Is there a way that then >> say someone who is 35 plus okay and they're listening to us and they're panicking okay >> well let's let's not panic >> let's not panic what my colleague had had described earlier is on a a perfect environment where you are a healthy person >> uh let's not forget that um there are so many >> u indicator so many other factors that affect pregnancy or the ability to conceive at that particular time.
>> Um I I like to see what you playing, you know, the ladies in in the western world talking about this and eating a salad and the rest of it.
>> Yeah.
>> But uh in our environment, uh things are real in a different direction.
>> Yeah.
>> Uh scores and scores of people don't have a balanced diet.
>> It's true.
>> Scores and scores of people are already bombarded with a lot of inflammation. M >> people are inflamed. People have had uh STI. Uh you've messed up your body severally without knowing that it it will affect your ability to conceive. uh people are not eating as healthy as they >> they should >> they should and sometimes out of ignorance.
>> Uh you you may not necessarily think of making an effort to um have more of healthy foods and you are subjected to denatured foods within your environment because then >> uh you cannot get the proper food that you require to put in the right building blocks for your body. Okay, >> let us not forget that um the that age group or where you're required to have uh uh babies or conceive at that time.
There are so many other factors that are affecting you. School is one.
>> Yes.
>> Our schooling system and it is a shame to get a baby before you finish your school as a lady. It's not like a man who is impregnating. So the stigma part of it, >> let us not forget that people are stigmatized. There's so much trauma also.
>> There's a lot of trauma within the school setting, within the cultural setting, family pressure. She is saying I'm about to die before I see your child children and stuff >> and trauma also affects you uh psychologically. Hence, it it it cascades into hormonally.
Um don't forget that u the young people also are getting into the business of intercourse earlier than before because of cultural exposure >> there are no >> many breaks are not there during our time there were so many breaks don't do this don't do this you can't do so your conscience will you know takes you on a straight path whereby you're not taking tangents in any way Now young people are >> testing and sampling everything and everywhere. And so therefore you start uh taking self-prescribed over-the-counter drugs to be able to overcome this.
>> Hence here you're trying to you're doing what? You are also affecting the chemistry of your body.
>> You're putting in toxins that are embedded in your tissues that influence >> your health such that you become slowly by slowly infertile. Don't forget that young ladies are also uh in the business of beauty.
>> Most of the things that you are applying in your hair, in your eyelashes, in your on your lips and and lotions, they have hormone blockers. And these hormone blockers are real and they concentrate.
They continue to be embedded in your tissues >> and they affect your >> DNA.
>> And so all these factors may not necessarily your your your infertility may not even be about time about story of of getting late. It's you've taken too much time in school.
>> It is what you've been doing on a daily basis >> every day.
>> Yeah.
>> You're going to the salon. You're putting in all these chemicals without knowing in the name of beauty to please Mr. right to come in and when Mr. right comes in. He is also having issues because he had also been eating this and this left, right and center, testing one substance here and there. And you abusing your body and your sperm is unhealthy. And by the time you're coming to meet and you've decided, oh, we're going to honor our parents and now you're going to have children. Your sperms are clubike.
So you have spermia. So you're also infatile without knowing. But your argument is so even now >> something happened something has been evolving here. So the environment is not just conducive. Maybe it was maybe it was not >> maybe it was good >> you know.
>> So I think uh there are so many other factors that are affecting us [music] and now when it comes to uh people who are seriously thinking about their future. We we we need to to to bring in all these factors.
>> Eat well. Sleep well. mental health.
Like my friend was talking about the public, you think about the sensitivity of what you keep telling people in church or in whatever gatherings.
>> You don't know how you're affecting somebody.
You're you're traumatizing. So all these factors are very important for for consideration >> and therefore as as as young ladies are approaching the upper kind of the 30s >> think about healthful living healthful living your mental health your relationship with your creator. What are you are you are you um comfortable with spiritually you your your spiritual emotional health how is it because they all play a part to >> the general health.
>> Yeah. And you know majority of the times Cleopa when when we're thinking about even just the pregnancy in itself and the thought of getting pregnant and becoming a mother we h what's what's the term we idolize it you know and we even hear a lot of women say yeah I'll get pregnant with just anyone and raise the baby by myself like we think that journey is it's going to be roses throughout and baby bump and whatn not but we also talked about the the mental health and where you are at as a person and that in turn will even affect the process of getting pregnant, you know, in the first place.
>> In fact, there are more people now using contraceptives >> um heavily >> and continuously >> and by the time they're coming to start wanting to get pregnant, >> things are bad.
>> That things are bad. By the time you're stopping, you already messed up your genital urinary system, your hormone balance, your endocrine system is already messed up such that you first have to >> to sort out the whole of the endocrine system in order for you to even start thinking about cons maybe a comment about just a second. Yeah. Yeah. Just on on the mental health and then we'll we'll come to that because that's actually the reality >> and I'll start with >> back then I am not going to enter into the specific but something small >> and I know people now can be able to get this information cuz we have the information >> like you can download the app of Billings method >> and something small which hit me that time was >> we were to help couples they identify the actual day of ovuration >> because when you are anxious, >> when you panic, >> there is a way you can affect the health of the sperm.
>> And so some people are not getting pregnant not because they can't get >> but because of their mental health.
>> Yeah.
>> And that's where now we need to start that they need help from us as they also look at it. It's not only a medical issue, it's a psychological issue because people need to get help so that they relax. They become calm. And that way now the day of ovulation, the healthy sperm and a healthy offer can now bring about life.
I want us to realize [laughter] the connection between mental health when mental health and physiological health because the two are all connected. But now I want to narrow down now to mental health.
>> We have three or four types of people we are talking about >> and these are not statistics. These are human persons listening to us. a daughter of someone, >> a wife of someone, >> someone who everybody is looking upon and she is in a need.
>> So the first group are >> women >> who are struggling two issues.
>> The first is they are not in a ideal marriage situation. They are still having the relationship. A man comes there's a breakup. They are struggling with the ros and grief because of they have not yet entered into what the society is expecting to be a marriage situation. True >> and apart from that they are also now struggling with fertility issue because they asking I don't have a child. They have not even gotten into marriage. So they even don't know whether they can get a child or not. So you can get into the mind of that person. she's already in a tur >> because I have not had maybe someone in my life. I've stayed like this but at the same time I don't have someone in my life. So those people the society now the way we talk we traumatize them >> and they go through sadness anxiety they are not sleeping they are not eating cuz quietly they are suffering with those thoughts. That's one category >> of someone struggling with the two things. And this is the person we are talking to now.
>> When will I have a man?
>> When we have far and family at the same time, will I be able to conceive? Will I get a baby? Sometimes they have tried but they also not conceiving. So again there is a fertility issue and there is the stigma from the society.
[clears throat] to you don't have already someone everybody from their age to their family everybody is asking that that's one the second is these people we have had a wedding we have already gone through the whole process the dowry >> everything and [laughter] then the expectation is immediately we come and declare you a husband and a wife in the next two months >> a child >> we need to see something >> now the child is not coming >> and pastor wishes one and the blessing.
Now what does the husband tell the >> it is your fault >> it is you >> but he is not also looking at himself then the is saying it's not my fault >> I had to go through the whole process >> and then the husband tells him again tells her again you are useless now and you know some of those things are being thrown carelessly >> and then again the husband cames to himself >> he does not want to talk about her about this specific need >> which is very human. So you can see what marriages are going through today >> because of this issue. So what do we need to do? We need now help all of us work together >> the society >> everybody to start understanding >> how can we be empathic.
>> Empathic is let us try to understand >> even as we talk about these issues let us start to ask ourselves What is happening to this person who is a human being who has got an identity, a dignity? What is going on in her life?
And if she feels like she's not coping because of those pressures, then she needs to approach someone who can now talk in confidence, >> someone who is not judgmental, someone who can be able to take them through the process. So that we know do you go now to approach the medical side so that we confirm what can happen. Do you also help yourself with your mental issues so that the two of you now can start building a relationship of friendship where you can share the dreams where you can go towards each other even when you are going through what you are going through. Now the other side is parents.
All right.
>> The parent who are listening to us because they not go to ask their daughter especially men for women they call their daughters aside they call their son aside but men are also suffering >> because men are seeing we have done everything for our daughter for our son where is their child >> and they cannot go to ask now. So even parent they go through their own issues.
So they need also to come into terms with there is a lot of things that is surrounding fertility and then at the end of the day your life does not really it's not dictated by whether you have a child or not. You'll still find meaning and purpose through service through doing well to other people so that you can now start enjoying life and enjoying what you are doing.
>> We'll come to actually support because what you're saying is very important.
Support is instead of pointing fingers and say what are you doing? what are you not doing where you're infatile and what not it comes from your family what can we do to support them because like we said the mental connection and the physical connection there's no way two way about it but um Dr. Then so we looked at the risks for the pregnancy or the child but are there risks to the woman or are there benefits?
>> Are [laughter] there benefits? Let me start with the benefits. I think when you look at the clips when you when you start at 35 maybe 40 >> um you have you're sort of settled in life >> you know exactly what you want >> you want to spend more time with this baby.
>> Yeah. So motherhood is more of um a journey which you want to take on a conscious you know a decision which you made consciously >> and you want to actually be there 100%.
Unlike if you get um these young ladies get pregnant at 14 15 it's oops you know something happened and all these other things from society you know come in you don't have an education you don't have any skills you don't have a job and uh you know and so on and so forth but later on in life it is a conscious decision that you made and then apart from that you have also decided that even if I don't get Mr. right? I'll still want to >> take care of this of of this baby myself. So you are more involved as it were. You have reached you know um the the highest level of um of your professionalism as it were. So financially you are stable you know and so on. You are more enlightened. You have more information which is which is um which is a good thing. But uh when it comes now again to the pregnancy the risks the the things that I that I explained maybe even before we go there we can also ask about the causes why are we waiting so late you know you may have irregular periods for example because of hormonal imbalance not necessarily because of taking contraception but something which I have to underline is that something which actually does disrupt what you call the HBO axis is the P2 >> the emergency mergency pill.
>> The emergency pill, you can't have an emergency every 2 days.
>> Yeah.
>> Every weekend you're going out. It's an emergency.
>> Now, that overuse is actually a problem.
There is a contraception which uh which is called Chinese.
>> It's one tablet.
>> We have no idea what is in that one tablet and it is sold discreetly, you know, and so on.
>> Readily available, >> readily available. And uh unfortunately it messes with ladies cycles. And remember we talked we said right at the beginning that without a cycle it's very difficult for you to get to get um to get pregnant. There are also other causes why it's taking so long. There is you know um tubes blocked tubes for example. You didn't know that the these tubes are blocked. You've done everything you know as um you've reached that age. you've gone through what CLA has said, you've gone through all the process of marriage and whatever and there is no baby. So when we do um when we do um the the normal worker for infertility, we find excuse me, but your tubes are blocked because of an infection for example, then you may have fibroids as well, you know, which is a big problem amongst amongst ladies, especially in that age when they're when they're when they're when they're supposed to get pregnant. So this causes we here we are talking about ladies we haven't talked about gentlemen >> the bed I think we need like a separate conversation on the bed right [laughter] >> we need we need to have we need to have that conversation so the causes of waiting may not necessarily be that you don't have the right man >> or you haven't you know focus it could be that the right man is there but there are other medical issues which are actually stopping you from getting that maybe early enough and then we do get it later on then there are all these challenges which which can come up which can come up you know >> I see that and and Dr. understanding. So we have like 2 minutes to go on a break.
So I don't know whether you'll be able to talk in 2 minutes but the the question on um hormonal imbalance which which we handled to actually two two shows on the same but you mentioned PCOS cases of endometriosis and whatnot which one would also want to link that to lifestyle plus so many other issues. So in this age, 30s, 35, cuz we see a lot of women in that age, >> are there things that probably they can do to either reverse or manage to at least make it easier for them to to get pregnant.
>> Can I suggest something before we go on?
The PCOS was changed.
>> Yes. Two POS. Two POS. Yes. Yes.
Definitely. Yes.
Um let's let's appreciate the the fact that uh in today's age a lot of people are going through um deficiencies.
>> Mhm.
>> Um why? Because again of um imbalances on the diet.
>> It's not a balanced diet.
>> And so just even this simple little vitamin that is called B9.
>> Okay? you know or B12 >> uh which are key to to uh conceiving.
>> There are antioxidants that you need to pump into your body >> by what you eat.
>> Okay, >> supplementation is there. A lot of people go for sub supplementation. But don't forget that we are in a very crazy world where there are so many manufacturers that are not observing their normal situation. So people take supplements thinking they're taking a B12 or or zinc or whatever it is the missing links that you have and you're not taking genuine stuff.
>> And so it is real that people have deficiencies and deficiencies can come as a result of also what we are abusing.
There are foods that we take that leech out the good things.
>> There are foods that we take that have a lot of toxic overload.
>> Okay. unlike the years before. So as as a naturopath it's it's always look good to look at holistically all around it's not just the anatomy and physiology it's not just the diet it's not just the mindset >> even your environment what are you doing how much are you sleeping how much water do you do you take >> are you permanently dehydrated are you taking too much alcohol that is sapping away all the water from your cells and stuff like that >> are you um ingesting quite a bit of other chemicals through your skin and and and and other forms of inhaling.
What are you inhaling? Are you living in an environment that is giving you good health or are you having all this mold and stuff that is entering into your body and it changes your physiology? It changes your anatomy and therefore >> when you're constantly fighting inflammation >> Yeah. And then obviously you're going to hospital because you have this and that.
Then antibiotics are put in there. A lot of uh overthe-counter drugs, self-medication. There's also Dr. Google, you know, and you you you you key in your symptoms and then Dr. Google says and you don't know what websites whether they are true authentic >> expert advice and then you go buy these things and they are readily available generic stuff non not genuine stuff >> and you continue to pump in into your body >> all these toxic uh substances that end up messing your system >> the entire system go through feedback and then we'll come back and say so then are there ways that we can reset everything is there hope and I was telling you someone was in my inbox saying hey says that there's no hope for us but you said there's hope all right let's go through some of your feedback um you know on WhatsApp and and also your questions and then we'll I think we'll answer them after the break um so this one says hello NTV in my humble opinion I feel like there is no perfect time for becoming a parent I planned my first child at the age of 28 but basically I was not ready it was just society pressure and u my second and third child's um are oops babies. For the second child, I was okay since [laughter] I wanted two kids in [music] my life.
Family planning failed and I got the third child while at 36. This one really put me down. Baby is 4 months now, but it's not easy mentally for me. I am now scared of what next to a point I am scared of intimacy. Thank you. I think Cleopa we can handle this the mental the mental um aspect. Then this one says, "Hello. What causes severe vomiting and uh in early pregnancy and how can it be addressed? when is it advisable to see a doctor? And this is um Pamela who's asking that question. Then this one says, "Hello on TV. I am 30 years old and I have had two miscarriages caused by cervical incompetence. It is now 4 months since I had the second uh miscarriage, but there is no conception yet. I am stressed because uh of this.
Why am I not conceiving? Kindly help.
And what can I do to conceive? My menstrual cycle has resumed, but still no conception." Okay. And then this one says, "Hello, I delivered through CS with twins almost turning six months.
I'm breastfeeding exclusively and I have not seen my periods. Will I get pregnant after the sixth month?"
And then this one says, "Hello, good morning. I'm enjoying the show. I'm not using any contraceptive methods, but I'm not able to conceive. Claire's um this worries me a lot. I have one child and he is now 8 years old and I have not conceived again. What could be the problem?"
And then this one says, "Does having a child uh reduce painful menstrual cycle?
Because I'm always being told to think of having a child and the pain might reduce and yet I am 24 and still focused on my career." We've had this. I think all of us women have had this. Um this says, "Yes, the society should be kind to us. I am 41. I have never been married nor child, never been pregnant, never tried to be pregnant. So I don't even know uh my fertility status. I always hope she do everything."
Meanwhile, [laughter] and I think this is the case for so many women. So, probably will come and start with that. At what point then do we check our fertility status? Uh, and this is up to 35. So, so many questions.
We'll answer them after the break, but keep sending it our way. [music] Okay, we'll see you right after.
Welcome back. Welcome back. very few minutes to before we say goodbye uh on wellness Wednesday and the conversation today is on advanced maternal age previously called geriatric pregnancy and we're looking at the realities the risks the benefits [clears throat] um you know that's around the same but we're also saying so someone say someone is like 35 now 35 plus and they're like okay I'd want to have a child and what you guys are saying is there more risks than benefits so is there hope for me not to worry because that is what we're about to tackle but can we answer the questions? Who feels like going first cuz I know we coupled them together.
Let's answer them very quickly.
>> Maybe I I'll start by just explaining about someone who is ready to have a child.
>> Okay.
>> They are married or not married but they want to have a child and they have started the journey of wanting to conceive >> but they cannot conceive.
>> That is a ros.
>> Okay. We always look at ros >> and grave like only in death or also of a job but when you lose that apparity it has been confirmed or not confirmed but you are trying you can't conceive so that one by itself need help so that we take you through the process of grief we know are you s are you helpless hopeless depressed are you in denial all those things we need to work the person through the journey okay >> the second ros which many people need to be aware of and that's why I say I respect what our doctor told us is miscarriages >> because every time you lose a baby >> for a woman is not just a miscarriage >> it is a child a baby who has already start connecting bolding with her in the womb. So any miscarriage that happens it's a special and [clears throat] we need to be helped >> the society first to understand that and then the person may need to go for therapy to be able to be helped through the journey of ros and grave and then also we can come up with even mourning with them because that is it then there is all these other things that we know we expect like the cycle this is how it's supposed to be so you have you have an irregular cycle You have painful per you have maybe you have attempted to conceive you can't.
All those things they affect the person and they affect the emotion such that even when someone can naturally conceive because of the emotions that they are going through like from this miscarriage to this miscarriage. If you have not helped your brain >> you know that is the thinking and the emotions. So the decisions you make and even your body. So we need to help people so that they can separate the emotions and then they think what can we do? Do we need to go and see experts and I have walked journeys with women who we have journeyed with them for a long period and we work closely with our expert and when we work as a team >> we help in the mental health then the our medical they do the assessment the test. So when we get there, even like the one who was saying is at 41, >> if we work together, >> our expert in medical field, >> expert in mental health, we can help you to balance so that your body responds and you can be able to conceive >> to conceive. I see that. Thank you so much, Cleoper. All right. Those irregular periods, those contraceptive, there was uh what else? Um I think on diet as well um cuz they talk about deficiencies. Yes. Can we just couple them together?
>> Right.
>> Mhm.
>> How do we deal with deficiencies? First of all, identify what are you deficient of?
>> Uh thank God you can do tests. You can find out what is you see on once you've already understood or >> you have a hunch that you are not able to conceive. you'd come, we run tests, find out what is a cause.
>> Is it fibroids? Is it blocked tubes? Is it uh various inconsistencies? Yeah.
>> So once we we we look at uh your your sex hormones, your endocrine system, your functions, the thyroid, there's so many tests that you can uh pinpoint. And once you already ascertain that, >> then we put in the missing links. What is there? If it is the fibroids then what what solution do you have? We tackle that.
>> If if it's a block tubes, you don't have a good spill. What do you do about that?
>> So, [clears throat] >> it's basically important to understand where are you at and what is the cause of your infertility? Now when it comes to trauma because uh in my practice it's very important to understand >> what is around you what what is what what what are what other uh factors are generated through psychoggenesis >> is there trauma is there uh things you're dealing with are there inconsistencies here and there then we tackle that as well >> so solutions are not necessarily just meas if you if you have uh situations where you've been taking a lot of uh HRTs for example >> or or or you know contra contraceptives for a very long time and uh they've messed up your system >> then what do you do about that either you go through uh situations where you you try and detox the body you remove all this you embark on pumping in more antioxidants into the body to grab the free radicals that are causing all this troublem Mhm.
>> And so therefore it it >> then it can be able to bring hope back to the person >> or what time how long does it take? It takes time.
>> You see like for example the the the the lifespan of a blood cell is 120 days which is 4 months. And so all these chronic conditions and if we took this to be a chronic situation, you've got to go through various cycles in in trying to remove all these embedded toxins in your body and trying to make systems come back to at least normality so that you do not just conceive but you can carry it to term because that's another thing. you you we can even do the the the physical one and you you have it and then it doesn't work because the environment is not conducive enough are you able to carry it to term >> and so therefore all these factors must be must be looked at and we've not even talked about the man's side because >> we'll actually talk about the man's side I think because like we said clearly this needs a continuation of of of pure and then we bring in the man and now we approach it holistically today we started with the women at 35 But um there was also the question on I think they put on contraception and then they stopped but they've they've not conceived or they've not >> uh seen their periods and then there was another one of painful periods and they were told get a baby and then [laughter] >> and then the the gentleman who I think sent in the first question. Yes. Can we >> So I'll start with the 41year-old.
>> Yeah. Um, of course we can do tests for her >> to to know exactly where she is in terms of her fertility, her hormone levels. We can check um what do you call AMH, antimarian hormone, which will give us an idea about her ovarian reserve. We can check her TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone, very important hormone because it's like a manager of other hormones in the body. We can check her tubes to see whether they are okay. I think Dr. mentioned something about spillage in the tubes and so on. So we can actually assertain that and then she said >> so [laughter] let's go to the bank unfortunately we can't get for her [laughter] >> but but having said that we can actually she can actually do donor sperm >> and she can get she can get pregnant of course emotionally she's balanced she can get a baby. Um there was um the very first let me start with the very first questions about depot and her periods were all over the place. Prover is a method of contraception which can be given. It's injectable. You can do it once a month or even up to 3 months. And usually uh it does very well. It's cheap. It's easily accessible. But it has its downsides as well. And the downsides are that most of these women complain of intermenstrual you know bleeding or spotting and sometimes they contain they complain of low libido. So most of them will leave it because because of that but there are others who are very comfortable with it.
>> The gentleman who had one testicle removed and they've been trying to have a baby. God created us. There are some organs which are in pairs and I think he knew that emoji is like a plain's engine engines.
we can still cruise with with with the other one. Just like even with ladies, if we remove one ovary because of a disease, the other one we can still we can still function with that. So the most important uh thing for this gentleman is to have a sperm test, we know where we are in terms of um uh sperm quality and then we can we can help him. Um there's a lady who was I think 24 years with painful periods and has been told that she needs to get pregnant and and that will help and so on. I suspect that most probably is because of endometriosis. It in the past it has been that um get pregnant and then the pains will disappear. And the rational behind it is that once a a lady gets pregnant the cycle the normal cycle is actually stopped for the next 9 to 10 months. And endometriosis is basically a situation whereby you have that lining.
You remember we talked about the lining which is embedded outside outside the uterus and then it works as if it is part of the lining in the womb. Now if there is a pregnancy there the ovaries will not be producing estrogen which feed on the endometriosis which can actually cause the pain and we know that it's it is an inflammatory disease that um that we've talked about about here in the past the lady with the two miscarriages and um saying she has a weakness with the cervix very unfortunate she's trying to have a baby I'm sure she will and we pray for her that she does get um get get pregnant then what we can do we can actually put a stitch we can stitch we can suture the cervix such that um it doesn't open later on and there are different types of sutures which um which we can use there's another one who had delivered twins >> and she's breastfeeding for the last 6 months she doesn't have periods will she ever get her periods yes she will get her periods because regular breastfeeding actually works as a contraception in a way because it blocks the pituitary gland from working normally and there'll be no release of hormones. So that is why um that that is why she has no periods but she will have uh periods. I think we've answered all of that >> most of them. Yes. There's also the other one who the three kids is it the first one was not ready the other two were oops babies and now she's now inaccess over 36 and she got the last one mentally she's not I think the best the best thing for for her would be to consider would be to consider um contraception and there are various methods of contraception which can help her which are very comfortable and not even very expensive and that is something which she can easily consider consider and this will help her. For example, if she can't take tablets for whatever reason, we can insert what is called a Mirana coin which is very very effective 90 99% um% effectiveness and it will help her and it will give her that emotional comfort and mental comfort that >> I will not get a baby because it works in two ways. It releases a hormone which works on the lining of the womb such that that lining will always be thin and remember if the lining is thin possibility of getting a baby is not there >> and then it's also mechanical.
>> So there are two ways I think that would work very well for her and such that she she doesn't have this mental pressure that I may get pregnant so I don't want to be intimate just in case I get I get pregnant.
>> I say that there are two other questions here. Um, so this one says, "Hi, I got married last year.
There's also this one uh that says, "Good morning. I'm asking, do you still need the res medicine if you terminated a pregnancy many years ago with a man who was all positive uh and your blood is a negative or the risk uh reduced more years the more years the past the risk has reduced?
>> I'll start with that one of >> the I think Dr. you can do the >> negative."
>> Yes, >> the rest negative. Resus negative is basically where your blood group does not have a factor which is called resters which is found in in what you call a resus monkey. Now what happens is that in pregnancy um if you get a lady who's negative and a gentleman who is positive and if the baby that um the lady is carrying carries the blood group of the father which is positive what will happen is that her immune system will recognize that baby as an enemy and will >> attack it. M >> so what we know that is why this is very important right at the beginning for ladies or for couples for that matter when they come one of the first things that we do is we want to know your blood group and we want to know the blood group of your husband >> if it is positive and negative she's negative he's positive then there are some tests which we can do preliminary test right at the beginning what we call indirect coms test to see whether there is a reaction >> and we follow up this you know these tests later on.
>> Okay.
>> Now, if she had a pregnancy of many years ago, we will wait for her to get pregnant. Once she has got pregnant is when we'll see. Normally, uh we give them an injection.
>> Okay.
>> Uh what you call antid. And usually it's around between 28 and 30 weeks. And then soon after delivery, we also do a blood test from the from the cord of the baby to see whether there is a problem.
there's a problem we also give an injection but by and large there is there is that screening and there is that giving of the injection time at 30 weeks >> I see that the other one was on hormonal imbalance I think Dr. San we can bring you here cuz she was given medication and up until now she's not conceived and how she wants to conceive this year so she's asking are there other things that she can do >> she's 26 >> now she's not told us whether Mr. right is okay. Let's start there. That that could be a drawback. Number two, >> yes, she could have had a hormonal imbalance that can be fixed >> and it's not just a one thing that you take and then it balances all your hormones. It's a whole um you know system of of of you know bringing back the balances because the endocrine system is is is >> is an intricate system.
>> But lifestyle also disrupts because uh whatever you you have embedded in your tissues or in your anatomy >> can can cause problems. So yes, it is possible to to bring back the balances depending on um a consultation.
>> Get to find out get to the bottom of it because >> um in naturopathy we believe in knowing the cause. So you don't just do it blindly. You've got to find out exactly what is the cause.
>> And like I said, it could be either way.
It could be even the partner. It could be what how she is having the imbalance >> and so therefore all that is is something that can be done. So there's hope for her and again she's young >> so I don't there there's no hope there's there's no cause for alarm there's hope um and and clear I'm sure based on the questions that have been asked there's there's there's this pressure and and anxiety as far as conceiving when will my periods come back when you know will I have another like there's there's a lot of you know pressure and anxiety and whatnot uh and the last time you were here you said we can do medication Not meditation, meditation, you can meditate, you can ground, you can breathe. Can we just talk about that and how that is important? Even when we're just thinking about it, >> I'll summarize in three things. The first one we call it myness.
>> Might myness has to do with nature.
>> Like you see many people with a flower in the office, they don't look at it.
>> Other people have got forest near them, water near them and they don't use them.
That is meditation means you focus your mind on something that will help you.
You are not stopping because when you stop it's not also good but you are somehow directing your mental process into something that cools you down and relaxes you. So anything that can help you nature is one. The second is the practices like now gratitude journal like also imagining you are in Madrid islands wherever your dream is for aation. So that kind of imagination other practices like religious practices, prayers and all that. All of them they help you to ground in the here and now. And then there is grounding techniques like breathing in >> to relax your body and all that. So if you have those practices, they help you calm down. Number two is physical exercise.
>> Those people who manage to do rigorous like walking and they sweat, going to the gym, but still there is this more exercises we can do. Like when you are seated and you do your hands like this, when you are doing like this, something is happening all through your system.
When you are seated down and you do your legs like this, when you are doing like that is an exercise. So there are several types of exercises we can do.
Some which are rigorous which many people go for which is okay and others that are exercises that help to lower down the cortisol adrenise so that the stress hormones are reduced and then you calm down. Okay. Finally is relationships >> and that's why relationships in our marriage in the partners who are in your life and you don't have conflict >> or criticism you do not have concept like someone who is blaming you all the time. You don't have someone who is withdrawing but someone who is ready to build a house of relationship where there is friendship where there is repairing when you make mistakes where there is sharing your meaning in life and dreams and then yourself your attitude >> even when you are suffering >> the kind of attitude you carry even in suffering that helps you a lot. So there are all those things that we can help people and when they come we don't start with one we go through your own life because you have a unique life the situation you are in so there is relationship or connection with a therapist there is with the family members they are with your friends so any human person who can help you feel a sense of belonging but basically like you have said when we started it is really commendable that Many people are starting to appreciate the value of counseling and they are coming to us institutions. We have even big organization in Kenya who are stopping everything and they invite psychologist to come and give a talk even if it's one hour and that talk can help people to change whatever situation of life you are including issues of which the first thing we agreed that infertility or not having a child could be having very good reasons from childhood up to the time you are 35. Okay. The second the emotions that come with it that is what you are backed there is hope psychologically to help you. Whatever situation you are in you still a human person with dignity and you can need to raise your self-esteem because you are not determined by whether you are a mother or not. We still have other values that you are already enjoying in the world.
>> Okay, listen. I'm being pressured. We need to to end the show. So I think let's put a pause. Okay. But are you able to do like can you trust in like 30 seconds? Okay Dr. Go 30 seconds. So what is it that someone can take away from the conversation today? But we'll continue definitely next week on Wednesday.
>> There's hope.
>> For the ladies >> as well as um anybody with infertility >> get tested.
>> Okay. Don't be afraid and don't assume >> that you're okay.
>> Folk law, >> old women's tales.
>> Okay.
>> Find out for yourself. Get to see a proper diagnos diagnostic system.
>> Find out what it is. Then after you've known the cause, >> it can be dealt with. Have hope.
>> Okay, Dr. Kirki. 25 seconds.
>> 25 seconds.
>> 5 seconds. [laughter] Anyway, first of all, thank you very much for this show because it brings out issues which are very very important and uh it basically reiterates a time that time is a factor and we need to think about it even as we are thinking um we are validating ourselves in other ways. Um get tested, >> get pregnant. the risk factors that are there. We usually not usually we will handle them because at the end of the day what we would like as um as obstitricians and gynecologists is for these ladies >> these uh young ladies who are 35 and above >> to go home their babies.
>> Thank you for saying young >> young ladies. But we'll continue with the conversation um you know next week.
So please come back because there's a question of can we reset and if so what do we need to do to reset in in terms of the food and and and whatn not but also um the whole question about if you're there what then do you do to support your system and and everything so there's so much to come next week on Wednesday please make a date for us and we hope that they will also grant us their time but for now allow us to say goodbye my name is Unilbe thank you so much for really coming by today we'll also handle the men so next week is more holistic not just the women but also the men so look forward to that conver conversation. But for now, enjoy the rest of your day. See you tomorrow uh on Trendy Thursday.
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