The legal marriage age in China is 22 for men and 20 for women, as stipulated by the Marriage Law. However, the legal marriage age is not necessarily the optimal age for childbirth. Choosing to give birth during the optimal reproductive age for women is highly beneficial for the growth and development of the fetus as well as the future growth of the child. So, what is the best age for women to have children?
The optimal reproductive age for women is 24-35 years old
During this period, women's overall physical development is fully mature, and the quality of their eggs is high. If they conceive and give birth during this time, the risks of childbirth are low, and the growth and development of the fetus are good. Couples in this age range have more life experience, abundant energy, and the ability to care for infants and young children. If women become pregnant and give birth too early, the fetus will compete with the developing mother for nutrients, which is not good for the health of the mother or the development of the fetus. By the age of 24, women's bodies are basically fully developed, their bones are fully calcified, especially the pelvic bones have further expanded to meet the requirements of pregnancy and childbirth. Beyond this age, the secretion ability of the mammary glands will decrease, which explains why many mothers have insufficient breast milk.
Early childbirth can lead to gynecological diseases
According to the regulations on late marriage and late childbirth in China, women who marry after the age of 23 are considered to be marrying late; married women who are over 24 years old or pregnant with their first child after marrying late are considered to be having a late childbirth. However, there are still cases of early childbirth in some regions. Early childbirth poses certain high-risk factors for pregnant women. Generally, pregnancy before the age of 20 is considered high-risk, and it has a significant impact on future physical health, and in some cases, it may even lead to lifelong infertility. At a young age, the reproductive organs such as the uterus are not fully developed. If a woman gives birth at this time, the mother's body may struggle to bear the burden, leading to a higher risk of miscarriage, premature birth, fetal deformities, and low birth weight (less than 2.5 kilograms). In addition, early childbirth makes women more sensitive to external pathogenic substances, increasing the likelihood of various gynecological diseases and a significantly higher risk of cervical cancer. Teenage pregnancy can also pose dangers to the children born to them. Studies have shown that the likelihood of stillbirth or neonatal death within the first week or month after birth is 50% higher in babies born to mothers under the age of 20 compared to those born to mothers aged 20-29. Low birth weight is also common in these cases, which will have a long-term impact on the child's growth.
Delaying childbirth poses risks for both mother and child
Data shows that as the age of pregnant women increases, the likelihood of giving birth to a child with congenital mental retardation also increases. Currently, medical theory defines women over 35 as "advanced maternal age." Pregnant women over 35 years old should undergo routine prenatal diagnosis and be treated as high-risk pregnancies. Advanced maternal age poses risks to both the mother and the child, so late childbirth is not recommended. Having a child after the age of 35 can enhance a woman's psychological resilience and increase her lifespan. However, during the pregnancy and childbirth process, older mothers may face more challenges compared to younger mothers, so it is better to have children earlier.
The optimal reproductive combination: Men should be about 7 years older than women
It is evident that the optimal age combination for childbirth is when the man is about 7 years older than the woman. An older father is relatively intellectually mature and can pass on more "genetic information" to the next generation. A younger mother has a strong vitality and can create a better prenatal environment for the fetus, which is beneficial to the growth and development of the fetus. Therefore, this "optimized combination" of childbirth is more likely to produce "geniuses."
