Data from India’s central government shows nearly one in three women aged 15-49 years is overweight or obese, rising from one in four five years earlier. The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) reports 30.7% of women in this age group were overweight or obese in 2023-24, compared to 24% in NFHS-5 (2019-21). For men in the same group, the share increased from 22.9% to 27.3%. Health experts link growing lifestyle disorders to effects on fertility and pregnancy, prompting greater focus on preconception health. They argue that assessing and managing risks in both partners can improve reproductive outcomes. Ayurveda has long described garbhadana samskara, a regimen to prepare prospective parents physically and mentally. The SDM College of Ayurveda and Hospital in Udupi, Karnataka, now provides structured preconception counseling to couples from southern India. Dr. Mamatha K.V. calls this conscious preparation for conception, involving health assessments for both partners plus guidance on diet, lifestyle and related factors. These consultations allow identification of risks, medication reviews, correction of deficiencies and promotion of healthier habits. Ayurvedic texts describe conception through four elements: ritu for the fertile period, kshetra for a healthy reproductive tract, beeja for healthy sperm and ovum, and ambu for adequate nourishment. Interventions target these areas via tailored diet, lifestyle changes and supervised traditional therapies, according to physician Shreyashri Suvarna.
