Infertility has become a common problem for people across the globe. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), infertility is a disease of the male or female reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.
There are several reasons causing infertility, which can be both male and female factors. Some causes are preventable.
“Infertility is high because people are now getting more aware. We were earlier taught that 30% of causes of infertility is because of the female reproductive system, 30% is male, and 30-40% is both. Now, the male infertility has crossed more than 50%,” Dr KD Nayar, Chief Consultant and HOD at Akanksha IVF Centre, told IndiaToday.In.
Dr Naveen Nishchal, Chairman & Founder of Voice Of Healthcare, at the National IVF Summit and Awards 2024 event said that the increase in infertility is because of an inactive lifestyle and unhealthy habits.
“Increase in infertility is attributable to our inactive lifestyle, stress, pollution, unhealthy habits, delayed parenthood and much more,” said Dr Nishchal.
Dr Bindu Bajaj, Professor and HOD, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Safdarjung Hospital, said that infertility needs to be given priority by the government, especially after it has been highlighted in the National Family Health Survey-5, showing that Sikkim had the lowest Total Fertility Rate (TFR).
The doctors also highlighted growing health problems like endometriosis, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), male factors, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have become reasons for infertility.
With growing infertility issues among couples, in vitro fertilization (IVF) has become a prominent treatment option.
However, since IVF is expensive, it is largely inaccessible to a majority of people in India.
Dr Shweta Mittal Gupta, General Secretary, Indian Fertility Society, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital at the event, stressed that IVF should come under insurance to become acceptable, accessible and affordable to couples going through infertility.
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