QnA With Dr Kishore on Why Most Men Go Into Denial About Infertility

Dr Kishore Kumar, consultant neonatologist and CEO, The Cradle ( http://www.thecradlebangalore.com) the developments in infertility treatment since the birth of the first test-tube babyin 1978

Do you think in-vitro fertilisation is now accepted as part of regular medical
procedures? Are there any social stigmas attached to it in India?
Ever since the first test-tube baby was born, there were concerns raised about IVF.

Many conservatives who opposed such treatment even threatened to kill the man who has now been honoured with the Nobel Prize for medicine,
Robert Edwards. Indian doctors too faced challenges in offering IVF treatment. However, 1978 was a long time ago, and much water has flowed down the bridge
since then. IVF is no longer stigmatised.

That is not to say, however, that there is greater scientific understanding of the problems of infertility in the general mass of the Indian population.

Even today, when a couple arrives for treatment, the assumption is often that
the woman is responsible for being unable to conceive. For a man, his very manhood is defined by his vigour and his fertility.

When men are told that the problem lies with them, there is huge denial, great reluctance to accept the diagnosis. Up to 45% of the cases we see are due to problems with the man.

Q. Is the treatment now available to the common man?
Fortunately, infertility is not
such a common problem.Over the years, treatment has also become very much more affordable. Treatment procedures that earlier cost over Rs1lakh can now be had for
about Rs50,000.

Q. Are your patients mostly urban?
A majority of those who seek such treatment live in urban areas. But we even have patients who come to urban centres from rural areas, seeking such treatment.The number of such couples is still low, but I’m sure that with time, there will be more couples from rural areas seeking treatment for infertility.

Q. Does IVF come with many risks?

Yes. A pregnancy that results from this procedure could be fraught with the risk of miscarriage or still-birth. However, couples are often well-informed
of the risks they take.

Q. Are there programmes for creating awareness about IVF?

Promoting awareness of the infertility problem is the least of the worries of the government, which is attempting to control the population explosion. Infertility is a very personal problem. Information passes through word of mouth, and that is happening. People now know that there is medical solution to the problem
of infertility.


k_arun@dnaindia.net