Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 13 (IANS) Even as the number of IVF (In-vitro fertilisation) clinics providing hope to childless couples are increasing in the capital, the basic requisite of proving psychological aid to them is not sufficient, a study released Thursday said.

“In a study on IVF clinics in Delhi and Mumbai, it was found that only 44 percent of the clinics provided psychological counselling to couples. This is important as psychological healing is an essential part of the treatment given to the patients who are already in stress and psychological pressure,” said Manika Khanna, director of a private IVF clinic in the capital.

The survey was conducted in collaboration with the Health Essayists and Authors League (HEAL) foundation.

Other than suffering from stigma associated with infertility, experts say the couples are also exposed psycho-sexual problems relating to frustration, anxiety disorders, and depression.

“The number of centres that claim to provide solutions to infertility are rising with each day. Most of the units that are only meant to mint money, there is no counselling for the couples,” said Sudha Prasad, director professor at IVF and reproductive biology centre at Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC).

IVF, considered a form of Assisted Reproductive Technique (ART), is used to conceive the child outside the woman’s body.

The eggs and sperms are placed together under controlled conditions for fertilisation, after which, the resulting embryos are placed back in the woman’s uterus to initiate pregnancy.

An estimated 19 million couples are likely to be infertile of the 250 million attempting parenthood at any given time, experts said.

In the study conducted, over 60 percent of couples undergoing IVF therapy said the psychological support offered was not sufficient.