Fertility treatment, also known inversely as infertility treatment, is sought by couples who face difficulty in conceiving a child. This may be due to age-related factors, ovulation problems, tubal causes, sperm-related issues, or other unexplained reasons.
However, today there are different types of artificial medical support that have been developed to improve reproductive capabilities among couples who are looking to conceive a baby. There are various fertility treatment options that people can try to boost their chances. Let’s take a look at some of them:
Fertility drugs – These are drugs that can regulate reproductive hormones and make the body release one or two eggs during every ovulation, thereby improving the chances of conception. These drugs are used by women for not more than 3-6 months. Oral medicines like Clomiphene citrate cost less than Rs 100 per strip.
Donor eggs or embryos – Using donated sperm or eggs, couples can opt for artificial fertilisation through laboratory procedures and expect a pregnancy as a result. There are several aspects to it, such as finding a suitable donor, going through a course of medicines, undergoing various tests, and finally the fertilisation itself. Younger couples are given preference over older ones when it comes to adoption, so considering donor sperm/eggs can be a more viable option for the latter.
Surgery – Some women suffer from blocked fallopian tubes, fibroids, or other genetic defects. There may be a need to remove tissue caused by endometriosis or treat the polycystic ovarian syndrome. A laparoscopy or laparotomy can address such problems and make it possible to bear a child. The cost would depend on the surgery and the hospital where it is done. The price for a laparoscopic surgery for blocked fallopian tubes can be upward of Rs 20,000.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) – In this method, sperm is placed directly into the uterus near the egg at the time of ovulation with the help of a catheter. It shouldn’t cost more than Rs 10,000 to get this procedure done.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection – This is a process by which sperm is artificially injected into an ovum in order to effect pregnancy. It can cost Rs 4-5 lakhs in India. This procedure is helpful in cases of severe male infertility.
Gamete intrafallopian transfer – Aptly abbreviated as GIFT, this gifts infertile couples the joy of parenthood, although at a steep cost of Rs 10-14 lakh. A small surgical intervention is done to place both the sperm and the egg in the natural environment and allowed to fertilise. This is beneficial for women who have cervical problems or men with low sperm count.
Zygote intrafallopian transfer – In ZIFT, a fertilised egg is placed inside the fallopian tube of the mother after artificially fertilising the embryo. As with GIFT, this too is an expensive option, partly due to the laparoscopy procedure involved.
Gestational surrogacy – In this method, the couple finds a surrogate mother who agrees to be pregnant on their behalf. Since her egg is not used for the pregnancy, the surrogate mother is not the biological mother, only the birth mother.
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) – Among the various options, IVF is becoming a popular choice among couples who are struggling to have a child. In IVF the eggs are removed from the mother, fertilised externally by the father’s or donor’s sperm, and then placed back into the womb of the mother. The mother may need to take fertility drugs before this procedure, and her health is carefully monitored by a fertility specialist. The fertilised egg or embryo is then transferred into the uterine cavity through the cervix with the help of a small tube.
Once the IVF process is over, complete bed rest is advised for at least 24 hours. The success of IVF is dependent on the quality of service provided by the clinic, the age of the woman, and other health-related factors. The average cost of an IVF cycle can be anywhere between Rs 2.5 lakhs and Rs 4 lakhs. There may be additional medicines and tests required – or procedures like Frozen Embryo Transfer – that can further escalate the cost.
These costs may seem a little daunting but a Personal Loan from HDFC Bank can help you turn your dreams of becoming a parent into reality! Selected pre – approved HDFC Bank customers can get the loan within 10 seconds, whereas non – HDFC Bank customers can get a loan within 4 hours. Even more, you can also take advantage of the flexible EMIs starting at Rs. 2149 per lac, for an easy and stress free repayment.
According to the Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction, there are as many as 3 crore couples in India who suffer from infertility issues. Therefore, it is no surprise that the IVF services market in India is expected to grow to a USD 776 million industry by 2022. However, with the low cost of technology, the abundance of skilled professionals, and an English language-friendly medical industry, India can expect to be a major global service provider to hopeful couples who await their bundle of joy.
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