4 Advantages of Getting Married Early

It might outrage the young generation, if we say that 'getting married is healthy for you'. The younger lot may also consider it as a thought which will restrict their freedom. But, the statement actually holds some logical reasoning behind it.

Marrying early is not only good for your health, but for your relationship as well. It helps you look younger for years, keeps you happy, boosts your relationship compatibility with your partner and much more. So, let’s get to know more about the advantages of tying the knot early.

What do we mean by an early marriage?

An early marriage today should not be confused with premature marriages, the way we saw them in the popular daily soap, Balika Vadhu. In contemporary times, getting married before the age of 25 seems to qualify for an early marriage. As getting married when you are around 20-21 years is more likely to be looked upon as a slightly premature marriage, at least in the metros and urban suburbs.

Decoding the advantages of an early marriage

Well, some believe that getting married before the age of 25 might lead to relationship complications later on in life. This is so because these couples are still immature when they enter into wedlock. However, to manage a mature relationship, it is important for individuals to have a mind of their own. While some believe that the more you age, the more strong-headed you become. And, two strong-headed people cannot gel well easily.

Nonetheless, let’s take a look at some of the advantages of getting married early.

1. Establishing your centre of gravity early

Most of you in your 20s are in a constant flux of discovering yourselves. Your jobs, relationships and family matters seem to churn your lives upside down repeatedly. During this time, having someone close to you, who understands your mental turbulence, and is genuinely interested in helping you, is a great idea. Having a soul mate at this stage of life sounds rather helpful, because you both grow together. You begin to know each other first and family responsibilities come in much later.

2. Better chance of establishing compatibility

With rising number of divorces of India, it becomes important to look at the psychology behind it. Especially in the urban India, by the time couples choose to marry, they have had already developed a mindset of their own. And, when two contradicting mindsets meet, clash is bound to happen. With age, it gets difficult for an individual to adjust with another. On the contrary, getting married a bit early means you are with your spouse during the process of evolving psychologically. This is parallel to a piece of metal being heated, which is more malleable at this stage. During the growing phase, adjusting to your partner’s habits or thinking is easier. This way it becomes easier to strike a compatibility.

3. Being more energetic parents

Parents, who marry late, constantly struggle to match up with the mindset and stamina of their kids. Getting married early means you are likely to have kids when your health is at its robust best. This can help you to take upon more challenging aspects of parenting. You can energetically participate with them in their activities and strike a bond easily. 

4. Looking younger for longer

Gynaecologists approve of the fact that post 30, sexual and reproductive hormones in a woman start diminishing steadily. Thus, becoming a parent early means giving your body a better chance to recover from the childbearing demands, which work towards preserving your youth. The early you conceive, the more fit you stay. Cesarean rates are higher in women who are above 35. Mothers at this age have more chances of a C-section delivery compared to women in their 20s. Marrying late also reduces the chance of conceiving a baby.

Infertility Rate Declines Among U.S. Couples

Despite the rise in fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization, infertility rates have actually decreased among U.S. women of childbearing age, a government report released Wednesday shows.

Infertility "decreased slightly but significantly, from 8.5 percent of married women to 6 percent of married women," between 1982 and 2010, said study author Anjani Chandra.

Looked at another way, nearly 2.4 million women had problems with infertility in 1982, compared with 1.53 million in 2010, she said.

Many people may think that difficulties getting pregnant are increasing because of the greater use of in fertility treatments and in vitro fertilization (IVF), "but that's just not shown in the data," said Chandra, a research scientist with the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Chandra noted that many women are having children later in life than in past decades, which may involve fertility issues or delays. But the rate of infertility among older women has not increased, she said.

The study also compared another measure of difficulty in having a child, known as "impaired fecundity."

"Contrary to public opinion, infertility and impaired fecundity are not on the rise among women of reproductive age in the United States," said Chandra.

Infertility is the inability of a woman to conceive after at least a year of unprotected sex with her husband or live-in partner. Fecundity describes the physical ability to get pregnant or carry a child to full term.

There is some overlap between infertility and impaired fecundity, but they're not the same.

"Impaired fecundity among married women and among all women 15 to 44 showed a significant increase in 2002 (relative to earlier years), but has fallen back to levels seen in the earlier years," Chandra said.

Because many baby boomers delayed childbirth and took advantage of fertility treatments, there was a perception that this older, more educated and wealthier group of mostly white women were suffering from fertility problems, she noted.

Among married women in 2006-2010, black women were more likely to be infertile than white women, the study found.

But educational, racial or socioeconomic differences in themselves didn't have that much impact, Chandra said.

"Where the racial and economic differential comes in is in the use of medical services -- it's a health care disparity," she said.

Dr. Jennifer Wu, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said that "IVF and fertility are more present every day in conversation and the media, so people feel it's a big problem -- everybody is having IVF."

The only difference in fertility is age, she said. "You might need more help at 44 than if you are 24," Wu added.

Wu noted that women can spend thousands of dollars on fertility treatments. For example, a single IVF treatment can run $20,000 and many women have several before they become pregnant, she said.

Among men, some form of infertility was reported by 9.4 percent of those aged 15 to 44 and by 12 percent of those aged 25 to 44 in 2006-2010, similar to earlier rates.

The report relied on data from a nationwide survey made up of more than 22,000 interviews with U.S. men and women.

Now, BOYS Spend More On Cosmetics Than GIRLS!

So claims an ASSOCHAM report, based on a survey conducted on spending patterns among Indian youth

We already knew that boys are hogging a bigger share than ever before of the Indian beauty industry, but now it's official. A survey conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) on the Indian youth's expenditure patterns, reveals that while youngsters spend most of their money on phones, apparel and branded cosmetics - with the average monthly expenditure going up by 65% in the last 10 years - boys are spending more on cosmetics than their female counterparts! Anything between `1000-5000 is what a guy would spend on cosmetics in a month.

 The survey, conducted on 2,000 youngsters between the age group of 16-21 years from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Chandigarh, registers a 35-40% hike in the monthly expenses of boys on cosmetics.

"Males have developed a special craze for cosmetic application as compared to their female's counterparts and their monthly expenses rose by about 35-40% during the period," according to the ASSOCHAM report. The survey attributes the inflated expenditure figures to the hike in pocket money given by parents to youngsters, and massive print and TV ad campaigns, while exposure to fashion events has upped the the grooming consciousness in youths.

"Statistically, Delhi registered higher consumption of cosmetics, apparels and mobile phones by youth due to the higher living standard of people in the city. Mumbai and Lucknow were second and third respectively, on the list. Lucknow's emergence is surprising to us," says Manju Negi, joint director, ASSOCHAM, adding, "The boys' fondness for cosmetic has shown a 165% rise in the last 10 years, while the figure for girls stands at 125%."

Not surprising, say city lads, giving the report their nod of agreement. "I go for French manicures pretty often. Since our generation has grown to be extremely brand-conscious, even the salon I visit has to be a big name. Among the products, I use this special brand of hair gel that my brother sends from the UK. So the monthly expenditure easily comes to around 6K." shares Parth Singh Dev, a student.

Mudit Agarwal, a student of Class XII, illustrates why boys have ended up spending so much on what used to be considered a woman's domain, "I am very particular about my hairdo, so I splurge on hair gels and shampoos. And if we boys even go in for fairness creams, which girls are generally fond of, what's wrong in that? I believe the first impression is formed through one's physical appearance and there is nothing wrong in going the extra mile to make sure it's a first good impression!"

Girls add that it's no longer fair to think that only the fairer sex spends hours over their looks. Maria Parveen who has just finished her MBA from BBD, says, "Boys do everything what we girls do. They go to the gym, take spa treatments and visit salons regularly. I have seen many of my guy friends using fairness creams as well ! Deodorants and hair care products are also rather popular with the boys."

How to Give Yourself a Break (by Lisa Lombardi)

The world won't come to a halt if you slack off for a day. Read on to find out why you need to decompress from time to time, then check out our divine suggestions for doing absolutely nada -- your health and happiness depend on it.

It's a knee jerk response: Your friend calls and asks "Whatcha doing?" and you respond, "Oh, nothing." But that couldn't be further from the truth. Think about it. When was the last time you truly chilled, slacked, vegged as opposed to juggling an overbooked social life and a crammed work schedule? Can't remember, huh?

"Women today have been conditioned to believe that we have to do it all, all the time. But taking time out lets you step back and calm down, giving you renewed energy and focus," says Lydia Belton, Ph.D., a psychotherapist who specializes in stress management through hypnosis in New York City. "More people are overscheduled today than ever before," agrees Jane Rinzler Buckinham, president of the trend-tracking agency Youth Intelligence and a Cosmo contributor. "we're overloaded with so many TV channels and Web sites -- with so much at our disposal, we feel guilty if we want to do nothing."

For most women, taking a complete time-out even temporarily is unthinkable -- but that's exact what we desperately need. "Because women are encouraged to fill up their lives--and are naturally good at doing many things at once--they may not realize when they're near the breaking point," says Laura Berman Fortgang, author of Living Your Best life. "The problem is that it's easy to forget to take any time to stop and recharge, which is absolutely necessary to rejuvenate your body and soul." And while the urge to accomplish and achieve is admirable, it's bound to backfire if you don't allow yourself the occasional break. As we'll explain, a little bit of nothing goes a long way, and if you laze a bit every now and then, you'll feel less stressed instantly, more creative, and happier to boot. Here's how to embrace the let-it-go mind set.

The Reasons Women Multitask

"Blame it on your fierce female mind". "Women's brains are hardwired to do numerous things at once, whereas guys are better at focusing on one thing," says Anne Moir, Ph.D., coauthor of Why Men Don't Iron. Studies have shown that the area of the brain that shuttles information from one side to the other is bigger in women than it is in men, enabling us to process more info at once," Moir explains. And its a skill that gets put to use like never before in these stimulating high-tech times. "Technology not only enables us to work more hours and from more locations, but it also allows us to do many things at once -- like read e-mails and listen to voice mail while typing a text message into a cell phone," says Robert Lawrence Friedman, MA, president of Stress Solutions, Inc, a stress-management consulting firm in New York City. "So we think because it's possible, it's preferable--we should do more because we can."

Adding to the chaos is social pressure to be an across-the-board success. "women today face unprecedentsed expctationsin their careers, but the pressure to be on top in the more traditional arenas--cooking dinner, raising children--hasn't let up." explains Beth Montemurro, PhD. assistance professor of sociology at Pennsylvania State University at Abinton. "And the demands are higher at both work at an home: It used to be that you could focus on one or the other. Now you have to do both well." When you consider that women still shoulder the bulk of the parenting, social planning, and household duties, you have a formula for female overload.

Why We Deny Ourselves Downtime

"As a society, we're told to keep busy and get ahead, so the idea of doing nothing seems wasteful and selfish," explains Buckingham. "Couple that with the fact that this generation is incorrectly perceived as lazy, and it's easy to feel like if you take time out, someone will scream "Slacker!"

The workplace may be the biggest guilt inducer. In this lagging economy, letting on that you're not a workaholic can seem like a risky career move. "If others are hustling and you're taking it easy, you can't help but wonder, "What's wrong with me? I should be doing more," say Buckingham."There's a fear you'll be left behind." Laura, 30, can relate: "Even on vacation I feel taht if I'm not reachable, I'm a bad employee," she says. "I have my cell phone with me constantly so my office can call me. I have my laptop with a modem so I can check e-mails. It's not even like I'm away from work."

And when they're finally officially off the clock, many women bring their workaholic ways to their personal lives. "Single women realize they aren't going to meet the man of their dreams while sitting at home," says Buckingham. "It starts to seem like if you skip one party, you could miss meeting The One." Even coupled-up chicks experience the social squeeze. "Women feel like they have to be at every social eventor there's chance they'll miss out on something, whether its juicy gossip or a new job connection," says Barbara L. Heller, author of 365 days to Relax Mind, Body and Soul.

Getting Over the Guilt

There are ways for you to stop feeling torn about doing nada. First, consider your mental motives. "Is it really guilt you're experiencing, or does kicking back just feel strange or uncomfortable because you have gotten out of the habit?" asks Kate Larsen, a corporate and personal success coach in Minneapolis. It can also help to look at the issue with a fresh perspective. "Wouldn't you encourage your friend to not work so hard, to relax, to not feel guilty about taking a breather? Adopting an outsider's point of view makes you realize relaxing is not a crime," Heller suggests.

But if just the thought of taking a total time-out fills you with fear or unsquashable guilt pangs, you may need to start unwinding in super-small increments.

"Remind yourself that you don't necessarily need a large block of time to feel revived," says Belton. "In five minutes or less, you can completely relax." In fact small doses of doing nothing are often the most effective. "Thinking that you need to take a full day or a week to truly unwind just puts more pressure on you," says Larsen. "But building small pauses into your daily routine gives you the benefits without disrupting your life."

And ponder this: Who are you really worried about pleasing, society or yourself? Since 9/11 more people are deciding it's okay to stray from convention. "People now realize that their lives should be about doing what's right for them," says Buckingham. Liz, 28 agrees. "I used to be such a workaholic, I'd spend lunch holding a sandwish in one hand and typing with the other -- every single day," she says. "But now, at least a few times a week, I get out of the office, drive to the deli, and completely zone out for a few minutes, just sitting in my care in the parking lot. And you know what? The work still gets done."

The Benefits of Taking Breathers

Still fear downtime is wasted time? "Doing nothing actually does a lot -- it recharges your batteries so you approach your next task with new perspective. You'll feel more creative and efficient," says Veronique Vienne, author of The Art of Doing Nothing. Maybe you've noticed how putting your brain on autopilot (by doing an ultra-familiar task like washing the dishes or taking a shower) can sometimes help you break through a mental block. Well, there's a reason for those sudden strokes of brilliance, says Moir. Repetitive activities can cause the left side of your brain -- the critical side -- to tune out, so the creative right side can come up with new ideas without the other half critiquing.

And having extra energy makes you magnetic. "It enhances your relationships because when you take a break, you become happier, and you sharethat with others," says Larsen. Another reason to chill: Your health. "Taking time out will reduce stress, helping you sleep better -- a key way to boost your immune system," notes Belton. And the emotional benefits can't be beat. "It's a sign of maturity when you acknowledge it's not about more--it's about better," says Berman Forgang. 

Suffering From Acne Anxiety?

Acne can be stressful, for both men and women. Experts tell you how to deal with this condition

If you thought that acne was only stressful for women, think again. Men, too, feel extremely anxious when they see a zit or pimple on their face. Recently, Maroon 5 band member Adam Levine reportedly stated that acne had left him depressed in high school. Dermatologist Dr Swati Srivastava confirms, "Acne in men can be much worse as compared to women." Another city dermatologist, Dr Shefali Trasi-Nerurkar, says, "Men and women suffer from psychological abnormalities like depression, anxiety, embarrassment and social inhibitions due to acne. Hence, a prompt treatment of acne becomes important to gain back self-confidence."

Cause of Concern

Though acne is commonly found during teenage years, hormonal imbalances can lead to adult acne too. Studies show that men suffer from acne for longer periods probably because of testosterone, which is present in higher quantities. Meanwhile, pre-menstruation, pregnancy and even menopause causes acne in women. Dr Srivastava says, "Acne occurs because of hormonal imbalances, which induce sebum secretion. When we touch our face or pick our acne, bacteria gets entry and boils, blackheads and pus come as a result." Factors like emotional stress, applying wrong cosmetics, hot and humid climate and a diet rich in chocolates, fat-rich foods and ice creams can also lead to acne among adults.

Types of Acne

Types of acne include whiteheads, blackheads, papules which are small, pink bumps on the face, pustules that have red base and are filled with pus, nobules embedded deep in the skin and cysts, which are extremely painful and can cause scars easily.

Prevent Acne Scars

While inflammation caused by acne subsides in a few days, it is essential to prevent acne from scarring your face permanently. According to experts, you should never pick the pimples on your face. Says Dr Nerurkar, "One should visit a dermatologist as the treatment of scars depends on the grade of acne. One can also opt for lasers, strong chemical peels, acne surgeries like Subscission, Dermabrasion and  Microdermabrsion to remove the scars. They can be treated with hydrating fillers too."

Tips to Treat Acne

-Don't pick or squeeze your pimples.

-Don't scrub them with soap.

-Go for regular clean-ups

-Wash your face after coming from outdoors with a salycilic acid face wash.

-Include foods rich in Vitamin A and minerals like iron, zinc and chromium.

-Applying ice gently on the infected area can also reduce the inflammation.

-Visit a dermatologist if your acne problem persists.

Try these natural remedies to cure acne

-Apply the paste of nutmeg powder and un-boiled milk on the infected area and wash after an hour.

-Rich in Vitamin C, orange peels are one of the best ways to treat acne. Apply orange peel mask with water base.

-Scrub tomato pulp on your face and wash with warm water.

-Use epsom salts in your bath.

-Include honey and oatmeal cereal for breakfast.

Chilli Spray To Help Women In Distress

Alarmed by the spurt in crimes against women, the defence research laboratory, a unit of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has developed a chilli spray that women can use to protect themselves against attackers and miscreants.

Responding to a question raised by Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member Anil Desai and Congress' Rajani Patil, Defence Minister AK Antony said that the Tejpur-based defence research laboratory has successfully developed the spray, called Capsispray. "It contains oleoresin capsicum extracted from the world's hottest chilli, the Bhut Jolokia, largely cultivated in Assam and other parts of North-Eastern India," Antony said. 

The prototype of the spray is ready, Antony said, and the product is required to be tested for several toxicology parameters. The DRDO will take steps to popularise the product once the trials are over. 

Desai said that in view of increasing attacks on women, he had knocked at the doors of the defence ministry to press for a proposal for a non-lethal weapon that women could have for self-defence. In fact, last year, when the number of attacks against women went up, the Shiv Sena had distributed knives to them in Mumbai. "It was a symbolic gesture. Now that the defence research laboratory has developed the chilli spray, we expect the product to hit the market within six months. If there is delay, we will meet Antony to press for immediate availability of the product," Desai said. 

He said that from the information gathered by him, the chilli spray will act immediately but will not result in permanent damage to any part of the body of the accused. "We expect that once the spray hits the person, he will be immobilised for a while, so the woman can rescue herself," he said. 

According to a senior IPS officer, if the spray comes into the market in the next six months, it will help curb crimes against women. "No doubt every woman will have to buy it, but it will be worth it. The spray will be particularly useful if a woman is alone at home and a stranger forcibly enters," he said. 

Kids Born After Rape Can't Be Considered As Property: Bombay High Court

MUMBAI: Children born to unwed girls who have been raped cannot be considered as "property" involved in a crime, the Bombay high court has ruled in a landmark order. 

A division bench of Justices RMBorde and RV Ghuge quashed an order of the child welfare committee that sought a report from the police to allow adoption of children born to minor girls who were subjected to sexual violence. Saying that the fundamental right to life of children included the right to be rehabilitated and have a family, the judges asked the committee to be sensitive in such cases.

"Merely because the children are born out of sexual violence to minor unwed mothers, it does not mandate calling of a report from the police as to whether they would need the children for investigation purpose or for calling (for a) no-objection certificate from the competent court dealing with trial of offence," said the judges. "It must be understood that the police are concerned with the investigation of crime which is in the nature of sexual violence meted out to a minor girl; (while) the trial court, dealing with the criminal trial, is concerned with the offence of sexual violence alleged against the accused. While considering the applications, tendered by an adoption agency seeking declaration from the committee that the kids are free for adoption, those children, who are born to unwed minor mothers out of sexual violence, can't be treated as "property" involved in the crime," they said. 

The HC said that neither the police nor the trial court have any role to play in declaring that the children born to a girl who was raped are free for adoption. Rejecting the state's claims that the agency could have taken recourse to alternative legal remedies, the high court said its intervention in the case was necessary. 

The court was hearing a petition by Ahmednagar based Snehalaya's Snehankur Adoption Centre which had sought permission for placing two infants with families through adoption. The first was a nine-month-old baby of a 16-year-old girl, while the second was a one-year-and-three-month-old child born to a 13-year-old girl. The girls were raped and the children were born from the incident. The girls and their families had surrendered the children for adoption. The panel, however, sought NOC from the trial court. The assistant government pleader argued that the report had been sought from the police to check if the kids would be needed for investigation as they were born out of an act of sexual violence. The HC rejected the contention and said police report was contemplated only in cases where kids were abandoned and not those who were surrendered.