Reproduction Organs Are Still Developing, Married Under The Age Of 21 Has The Potential For Uterine Cancer

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JAKARTA - Deputy for Population Control of the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) Dwi Listyawardani reminded female students not to marry under the age of 21. This is because the risk of disease in the reproductive organs is getting higher.

This was conveyed by Dwi Listyawardani during her working visit to the Population Alert School (SSK) of the Ushuluddin Singkawang Islamic Boarding School, West Kalimantan, Sunday, March 28.

"If a woman marries under the age of 21, it is very dangerous, especially in the intimate parts of her reproductive organs which are still developing, so that it can cause uterine cancer and so on," Dwi explained.

BKKBN strongly recommends that women get married at least 21 years of age because at that age the growth of their reproductive organs is already good. Otherwise, potential diseases such as the risk of bleeding, anemia, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, infection during pregnancy, and major miscarriage occur.

"Women who are pregnant and give birth at the age of 10-14 years have a 5 times greater risk than women aged 20-24 years," added Dwi.

In addition, child marriage (under 20 years of age) also has a very negative effect on the healthy development of babies, both physically and mentally.

In fact, it is not uncommon because this will cause congenital defects and cases of stunting in children who are born.

"And no less important, namely the bad influence on women who marry at an early age, such as being mentally not strong enough to face domestic problems, causing independence and divorce," he said.

According to him, a teenager has reached emotional maturity when at the end of adolescence (age 17-22 years), she can control emotions, understand herself, and be able to critically assess situations before reacting emotionally.

For this reason, he explained, the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) also suggested that according to the law, marriage should be carried out at the age of women and men aged 19 years and over.

As regulated in Law no. 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage, the minimum age of marriage for men and women is 19 years. However, from a health perspective, the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) is campaigning for the ideal age limit for marriage both physically and mentally, namely a minimum of 21 years for women and 25 years for men.

"Therefore, it is better for female students to calculate the ideal age for marriage, especially in terms of health. Women must also be independent and should have graduated from school and have a job first and then get married," she said.