Opinion poll: 57 pct women do not know the difference between infertility and impotence

Having a child is an aspiration that is shared universally across the world. In India, especially, this is a matter of very high sensitivity and an inability to conceive can contribute to serious emotional and social distress to couples, irrespective of economic, educational or religious background.

The 2015 report by Ernst & Young, titled Expanding IVF treatment in India- says that infertility, the inability to conceive by natural means, is a medical condition with high prevalence affecting nearly 10- 15% of married couples in India.

In order to understand awareness levels about infertility, Mumbai based IVF clinic chain Cocoon Fertility, conducted an opinion poll, with a random sample size of 1289 respondents, 684 Females and 605 Males aged between 25 years to 45. The respondents spanned ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, thereby making them representative of urban India.

The poll opens our eyes to the extent of mis-understanding of infertility among the general population.

The survey was an attempt to seek out opinions of the masses via random sampling, giving them a set of 6 sharp yes/no type questions. It highlights the need for public and patient education. This data is from an urban setting from general population.

The findings were as follows:

64 percent women and 58 percent of the men, don't think that infertility is a disease.

61 percent women and 63 percent of the men, think that both women and men should be investigated in case of infertility.

There isn't enough understanding of the role of the male factor and female factor when it comes to fertility. 17 percent women and 21 percent men think that fertility is unexplainable.

84 percent women and 81 percent men are uneducated about the availability of fertility saving options such as egg and embryo freezing.

26 percent of women and 27 percent of men feel that going to a fertility expert should be a last resort; after everything has failed. This makes them vulnerable to quacks and superstitions.

57 percent women and 59 percent of the men do not know the difference between infertility and impotence.