The Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation Bill, 2020 – one the Government has billed as “historic” – has won the approval of the Union Cabinet in a significant overture towards regulation of the assisted reproductive technology sector. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the Cabinet meeting where the Bill secured the approval of ministers. The legislation outlines […]
infertility
Infertility: An ongoing issue
Infertility, as with many health issues, is rising in tandem with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in India. The reasons for this are myriad. Many cases are linked to lifestyle factors. According to the Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction, infertility is a rapidly increasing problem, currently affecting between ten and fourteen percent of the Indian population, with […]
The challenge of getting family planning “right”: Professor Amy O. Tsui on sexual and reproductive health in India
With India facing a plethora of issues related to sexual and reproductive health, ranging from sex-selective abortion to rising rates of infertility, Health Issues India interviewed Professor Amy O. Tsui, PhD of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, to discuss India’s family planning, female sterilisation, infertility, female foeticide, and other issues in the […]
Infertility in men higher than in women
At a recent conference in Visakhapatnam, experts have said that infertility in men is more widespread than the condition is in women in India – and warned that it too often goes overlooked. Between ten and fourteen percent of Indians are affected by infertility according to the Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction, with 27.5 million […]
IVF treatment allows a woman to give birth – at age 75
Another case has been witnessed in India of a woman in her seventies giving birth after receiving in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment. A resident of Sangod, a rural town in Rajasthan, the woman – reportedly aged 75 – gave birth on Saturday, October 12th, to a daughter after conceiving via IVF treatment in March. The birth […]
IVF at 74: A medical miracle or breach of ethics?
Last week, 74-year-old Mangayamma Yaramati made history after giving birth to twins following treatment with in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) – potentially becoming the world’s oldest birth mother. However, the news has been controversial, with fertility experts in India expressing criticism that the procedure was performed on a woman at such an advanced age. Mangayamma (identified by […]
Insurance boon for IVF?
Some insurance companies may cover in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) under health insurance plans, it has been reported. The news comes as a boon for couples struggling with infertility, a condition affecting an increasing number of Indians. According to the Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction, between ten and fourteen percent of Indians struggle with their fertility. In […]
Commercial surrogacy ban clears the Lok Sabha
A controversial bill which lead to a commercial surrogacy ban in India cleared the Lok Sabha on Monday. MPs passed the legislation, which Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan called “the need of the hour”, by a voice vote. Vardhan stated it was “unfortunate that the country had emerged as a hub of commercial surrogacy […]
Commercial surrogacy crackdown planned by the Government
The Centre has introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha to ban commercial surrogacy – part of an ongoing effort to crack down on the practise, with the goal of stopping women being exploited. The bill, if passed, would severely restrict opportunities for surrogacy. Couples, of women aged between 23 and fifty and men aged […]
Is India unequipped to deal with infertility issues?
Infertility is on the rise in India. Studies have linked this to both lifestyle factors as well as numerous diseases and the influence of air pollution. Despite this increasing prevalence, many hospitals remain inadequately equipped to deal with the issue. Statistics for basic fertility services are shocking. A staggering 94 percent of primary health centres […]