Infertility affects 10 to 15% of population

Owing to late marriages, women’s focus on career or deciding to start a family well into their 30s, fertility-related problems have become an issue, with in-vitro fertilisation emerging as a solution to the problem. Keeping pace with the trend of assisted reproduction, Baptist Hospital on Wednesday announced that a Reproductive Medicine (IVF) Unit would be inaugurated in the hospital on Saturday.

Dr George Korula, head of department of reproductive medicine and IVF unit, said infertility affects about 10%-15% of the population and since it is not a life-threatening issue, the public health facilities in this field are limited. He said the social stigma and psychological issues associated with infertility are something couples find difficult to bear.

Recognising the implications of infertility and the emotional turmoil that patients undergo, counselling services would be available at the centre, he said.

The Reproductive Medicine Unit (RMU) at Bangalore Baptist Hospital aims at providing comprehensive infertility care.
The hospital authorities claimed they would be offering low-cost solution to infertility problems.

Dr KK Talwar, chairman, Medical Council of India, will inaugurate the IVF unit in the presence of SV Ranganath, chief secretary, government of Karnataka, and Dr Suranjan Bhattacharji, chairman, governing board of Baptist Hospital.