12 November 2010
By Vasumita S Adarsh
For those couples who have been trying in vain to have a child, In vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment has today become a popular and a relatively economical option to go in for. Couples are increasingly opting for this, and many hospitals and specialised clinics offer this treatment.
Doctors put the range of IVF cycles in the city around a 1,000 a year, and say that couples with a variety of medical problems come for this treatment, and surprisingly, male infertility has emerged as among the major reason.
"Even up to five years ago, there was a stigma attached to this treatment, but today there is a level of acceptability, even if couples don’t always tell their family," says practising Gynaecologist, and fertility specialist, Pankaj Kulkarni.
He adds that originally, the treatment was meant for fallopian tube blockage. Today however, late marriages, and child birth has meant that elderly couples, and men with low sperm count are coming for this treatment, he added.
Programme Director at Deenanath Mangeshkar IVF Center, Mamta Dighe agrees and adds that age–related problems are on the rise today including low sperm count.
While the risk factors have been minimised today, having to go for up to even four IVF cycles, each costing between Rs 65,000 to 1 lakh, is one problem. Another problem is the risk of being more hyper active or having congenital abnormality. " IVF babies have two per cent more risk of having congenital abnormality than normal babies," says Dighe. Dr Avinash Phadnis of the Oyster and Pearl Hospital says, "Elderly couples with diabetes are anyway come under high risk pregnancies, this could lead to problems even during the IVF treatment," he said.
The Stigma With Ivf Treatment
Two patients who spoke to Sakal Times shared their experience of IVF treatment. "I didn't share this information with my family members, as they were from the village, and would have misunderstood the whole thing," said the 28–year–old patient (Name undisclosed).
Another patient, a 33–year–old fashion designer (Name undisclosed) said that families in urban scenario have become well aware about this treatment. "Since I had to wait for my fourth cycle to get pregnant, I had to share some information with my in laws."
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