India’s first fertility survey, Helping Families, has revealed that as many as 46 per cent of couples in the 31-40 years of age group are infertile.
The survey was conducted across nine major cities of India with a sample size of 2,562 respondents, both urban and rural.
Additionally, one of the key findings of the survey is that 51 per cent of young couples in the 31-40-year-old age group surveyed in Mumbai were found to be infertile when compared to 40 per cent of young couples in the same age group in Delhi.
In the 31-40 years age bracket, 49 per cent couples have already undergone In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment and the rest of them were considering opting for infertility treatment. About 75 per cent of the population studied also accepted the benefits of assisted reproductive treatment and were of the opinion that procedures like IVF are safe and help in conceiving healthy babies.
Poor sperm count is a major problem among men due to the increasing stress, toxicity in the environment, smoking, promiscuity, etc. “About 20 years ago, the normal sperm count was said to be 40 million and above. Now, the WHO guidelines have brought down the normal sperm count to 15 million and above,” said Dr Hrishikesh Pai, an IVF expert, president elect, ISAR 2014, and scientific director-Advanced Infertility Centre, Lilavati Hospital.
The study also revealed that Mumbaikars are comparatively more progressive to their northern counterparts. About 54 per cent of the population studied in Mumbai still believed bearing children is God’s will and delay treatment as compared to a whopping 71 per cent of the population studied in Delhi.
Dr Jaideep Malhotra, president elect, Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE) 2014 said, “There is a general lack of awareness among the public regarding infertility, as it is a taboo subject. In the quest for conception, many couples opt for alternative therapies and religious rituals thus frittering away crucial years and time. Not just that, even today, women are pressurised in all aspects concerning fertility. The stigma and trauma associated with this condition is extreme.”