Infertility doesn’t make anyone less of a man or a woman. Infertility should not define one’s identity. Fortunately, that time is passé when so much stigma was attached to infertility/impotency that it was considered more of a sin than a medical condition.
At the same time, with changing times, the quality of reproductive health has been substantially deteriorating. However, with the right treatment and technology being made available in recent times, the success rates of Assisted Reproductive Treatments (ART) have significantly gone up in the country.
Research is key
A patient who needs help with fertility requires specialised care. Additionally, quite a lot of confusing and contradictory opinions from peers and family can make the situation worse. It is extremely important that each patient finds the most appropriate doctor to advise them on the right treatment. Infertility treatment can be a frustrating and emotionally challenging experience, if one does not approach the right care provider. Reliability, a proven record, and good reputation are essentials for patients to be able to trust the doctor they go to.
Stay away from quacks
Fertility is a highly lucrative industry, especially in India, due to which, more and more players are entering the market at a rapid pace. With the rising number of such clinics, it is important to do a thorough research on the facilities it offers, and the qualifications of the specialists.
Regulation is the need of the hour
The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has a set of strict guidelines, which have to be followed by any fertility/IVF Centre. Currently, since this is not a law, quite a lot of fake players are mushrooming in the market. Unfortunately, this bill has been kept pending in the parliament since the last 15 years. Ironically, the surrogacy bill, which is an ancillary component under the ART bill, was recently, hastily, passed by the Government of India. It is important to tighten the existing guidelines by passing the ART bill, which will confirm quality healthcare, while also significantly improving the superiority of reproductive tourism in India, by ensuring quality over quantity.
Confidence in doctor
The key to any treatment cycle lies in the doctor-patient relationship. Transparency within that relationship is what one has to primarily look for. A doctor should clearly explain the treatment cycle and must be available when the patient is in need. A patient should be, in turn, assured of the quality of the treatment right from the beginning, to help form the trust which propels a successful treatment. Fertility cases are rarely the same, and no 2 treatment cycles will be similar. Every couple needs to be given specific and individual attention, based on an in-depth understanding of their medical history. If you feel like you are being provided with a ‘standard package’, never hesitate to rethink.
Ensuring that processes are in place
There are certain steps to be followed by any fertility centre, to ensure that the right embryo is implanted into the uterus. Patients need to invest a lot of time, energy, and money to get the right treatment. So, to ensure this, the concept of witnessing system is used. The centres should have facilities at every level to prove to the patients that their own embryo is used in a said ART procedure. When semen is produced by the male partner, he should sign and authenticate the labels. After this, every time the semen sample moves from one tube to another, the witness needs to sign on a document. Also, the witnessing system should also be in position at the time of insemination. This could be done manually or with the help of technology.
Infertility is no more referred to as a woman’s topic. However, it is every woman’s responsibility to take informed decisions when it comes to a topic as delicate as infertility, as it is a man’s. Instead of addressing the topic behind closed doors, it is important for men and women to understand the issue right, and seek aid from an experienced specialist.
Source: Healthhunt
