HYDERABAD: Unlike the past, when cases of
infertility were believed to be largely restricted to upwardly mobile women — who either married late or led unhealthy lifestyles — the issue has now broken all social barriers and is rapidly increasing even among women from weaker sections of society.
State-run hospitals like Gandhi or the government maternity hospital in
Petlaburj now receive 50-100 patients, on an average every month, for fertility treatment. While other state-run hospitals too have similar patients, officials here say that they are forced to divert them to private centres.
Given the growing incidence and the high cost of treatment, the state has drawn up plans to extend infertility treatment across teaching hospitals. The first ‘pilot centre’ was launched at Gandhi Hospital.
Health officials said that the idea behind setting up the centre and drawing up a plan to replicate it, is aimed at making the option of parenting available to couples from weaker sections of society as well. “The cost of fertility treatment often cross Rs 2 lakh in the private set up, thus making it unaffordable for couples from low income groups, where the the incidence of infertility is growing,” said a senior official from the health department.
That rapid rise in infertility cases was highlighted in a study on ‘state of infertility in India’ by a medical technology company
Inito that pointed out how 10-15 per cent of married couples are faced with this problem. It showed how 45 per cent of women feel stress and anxiety about it. “About 40-50 per cent of the times infertility in couples is because of the female partner. While many factors increasing this risk, our lifestyle changes have taken the lead. With many couples taking the call on increasing their marital age, family planning takes a back seat. Not many believe, but the reproductive age is a vital contributor to pregnancy,” the study stated.
