OVARIAN AGING AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN ASIA: FERTILITY, PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING, DELAYED CHILDBEARING, AND PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

Ovarian aging is a gradual biological process involving changes in ovarian reserve and oocyte quality and is an important factor in female reproductive health. At the same time, women across Asia are increasingly experiencing changes in education, employment, marriage, family formation, and childbearing patterns. These social changes can contribute to delayed childbearing, while awareness of age-related fertility decline may create concerns about future reproductive possibilities. The interaction between biological aging, reproductive decision-making, psychological well-being, family expectations, employment, and access to reproductive healthcare remains insufficiently explored from women's own perspectives. This qualitative study aims to explore how women understand ovarian aging and reproductive health, how they experience concerns related to fertility and delayed childbearing, and how social and cultural expectations influence their reproductive decisions and psychological well-being. A qualitative descriptive design will be used. A purposive sample of 25 women aged 30–45 years from Asian cultural contexts will be recruited. Semi-structured individual interviews will be conducted and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The proposed study will focus on women's lived experiences, knowledge, concerns, decision-making processes, coping strategies, and perceptions of healthcare services. Recent evidence indicates increasing postponement of childbearing in parts of Asia and growing psychological and social concerns surrounding delayed fertility. The study is expected to provide a culturally informed understanding of reproductive aging and identify implications for fertility education, psychological support, reproductive healthcare, and public-health policy.