Modern women in India are certainly more empowered than in the past in every field – social, educational, economic and political. Importantly, they have greater emotional and psychological strengths to deal with crises that they were a few decades earlier. An important aspect of this empowerment refers to controlling her life and claiming rights related to reproduction and planned parenting. This has been made possible by modern technology such as In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) which enables her in making decisions related to reproduction, child-birth and bearing. IVF makes her stronger and more confident. This is particularly helpful in the presence of a risk-factor or a health-related issue affecting her or her partner.
Incidentally, infertility has intense impact on a woman’s life. She is often stigmatised for being ‘childless’ more than her male partner. In the light of this unfair and wrong belief which has perpetuated for centuries, it is extremely important for her to be proactive and decide about her fertility. IVF is a method of treatment for most types of refractory infertility. For example, IVF is offered to patients with blocked fallopian tubes and other medical/ surgical problems of either the partner. Indications for IVF have enormously expanded to include almost all kinds of issues related to reproduction. Success rate of IVF are high compared to other fertility treatments. IVF includes a variety of procedures adopted in different couples. It includes, intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), testicular aspiration, donor-insemination and others. These issues require to be discussed in detail with the best IVF team for better results.
Besides being a form of infertility-treatment, IVF is also a source of empowerment for the going-to-be mother. IVF treatments have also made it possible to chose the timing of having a baby and selecting a method of conception in accordance with medical advice and availability. Egg freezing is an important method adopted sometimes by working women who choose to delay pregnancy in pursuing their career or to build financial resources. Egg freezing allows their use at a later date without diminishing the chances of fertility. Egg-freezing is helpful in women who have crossed their 30s or find it difficult to conceive because of medical or surgical disorders. Furthermore, couples who want to get pregnant but are not getting positive result, can also opt for this treatment. It is critically important that egg-freezing should be done when the health status is excellent and best-quality eggs are available.
A woman is also empowered to select the best IVF center for efficiency, ethical standards and affordability. She has a reasonable option to seek treatment at the place of best chances rather than mere convenience. With IVF, a woman and her partner are seeking a type of once in a life-time opportunity of treatment. It is therefore important to select the best IVF center which offers treatment for overseas and international patients. It should not be seen as a last resort, but is certainly a chance which has to be taken with caution and care. There are a large number of options and procedures used for IVF. The decision is made depending upon many factors, most importantly, the medical advice.
Another important aspect of empowerment makes it possible for a couple to identify the presence (or absence) of a genetic defect especially in case the previously known history of hereditary diseases. This can be achieved with pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) during IVF which involves the identification of chromosomal or other genetic anomalies in the embryo and select the most healthy embryo for implantation to avoid the occurrence of genetic defect. This has been particularly in cased of Down Syndrome, myo-pathy and other hereditary diseases. Consult the best fertility expert to know of your options and decide accordingly.
Empowerment is always accompanied with great responsibility. IVF has introduced numerous challenges and potential misuse of the advanced technology related to reproduction. It is important to adopt the most efficient and tested technique. There is a tendency to mushroom the centers without availability of appropriate caution and technological resources. Any violation of the scientific and legal guidelines may invite litigation. It is important for both the partners and the concerned medical team to follow the ethical and moral guidelines as well as the legal provisions of the country before a procedure is adopted. In brief, a woman in need, must enjoy this empowerment but exercise adequate care, understanding and caution.