Infertility

Infertility is not just a medical condition but a crisis fuelled by lifestyle choices, with infertility rates soaring particularly in lower-income groups and tier 2 and 3 cities where access to healthcare is limited, a top IVF specialist said. Dr Ajay Murdia, the man behind one of India's largest fertility chain, Indira IVF, said while advancements in assisted reproductive technologies like In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) offer hope, it is a reality that the underprivileged who are hit hard. "Infertility rates are soaring, particularly in lower-income and tier 2 and 3 cities, where access to healthcare, nutrition, and education is limited," Dr Murdia, founder and chairman of Indira IVF, told PTI. "Infertility is no longer just a medical issue; it's a crisis fuelled by lifestyle choices that hit the underprivileged hardest. Without action, even advancements like IVF will remain out of reach for many," he said. Lifestyle factors such as obesity, poor diet, smoking, and chronic stress, .

The USD 3-billion CK Birla group company Birla Fertility & IVF is looking to invest Rs 500 crore in the next 2-3 years as it seeks to capture a larger share in the domestic market, a company statement said on Thursday. Birla Fertility & IVF, which is the third largest fertility chain, plans to extend its presence in the southern region by establishing 10-12 new centres across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh within the next 12-24 months, the company said. "The group is viewing for a bigger share of the IVF market and plans to invest Rs 500 crore in next 2-3 years," it said. By investing heavily in infrastructure and leveraging its expertise, Birla Fertility & IVF intends to provide fertility solutions to a broader audience, particularly in Tier II and Tier III cities, Avanti Birla, Chairman and Founder of Birla Fertility & IVF, said. Abhishek Aggrawal, Chief Business Officer at Birla Fertility & IVF, said that we have expanded across ...

Hormonal issues, increasing substance use, and changing lifestyle are leading to an increase in infertility in India, which may irreversibly altar India's population dynamics, potentially leading to an ageing crisis, Dr Ajay Murdia, the man behind India's one of the largest fertility chain, Indira IVF, has said. Talking to PTI ahead of the World IVF Day on July 25, Dr Murdia said that India stands at a critical crossroads, facing an unprecedented infertility crisis that threatens not only millions of families but the country's future demographic balance. "According to some estimates, about 27.5 million married couples are actively trying to conceive and are suffering from infertility. But only about 275,000 IVF cycles are performed every year," he said. "This silent epidemic, affecting one in six couples, is rapidly evolving into a national emergency with far-reaching consequences for India's societal structure and economic prospects," Murdia, Founder and Chairman of Indira IVF, ...

As part of a major policy push, Yoon also said a new government ministry would be created to address the country's record low birth rate and fast-ageing society

According to industry sources, the deal is valued at below Rs 100 crore, and the transaction will be financed through internal accruals

New fertility estimates must define govt's priorities

India's fertility rate dropped from nearly 6.2 in 1950 to just under 2 in 2021, and is projected to fall further to 1.29 and 1.04 in 2050 and 2100, respectively, according to a new global research published in The Lancet journal. These numbers were found to be in line with global trends, where the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) was over 4.8 children per woman in 1950 and fell to 2.2 children per woman in 2021. These figures have been projected to fall to 1.8 and 1.6 in 2050 and 2100, respectively. The study found that there were 12.9 crore livebirths the world over in 2021 -- an increase from roughly 9.3 crore in 1950, but a decline from the peak of 14.2 crore in 2016. In India, there were more than 1.6 crore and over 2.2 crore livebirths in 1950 and 2021. The number is projected to fall to 1.3 crore in 2050. However, even as much of the planet contends with the challenges of low fertility, many low-income countries will still be facing high fertility issues during the 21st century, sa

The number of babies expected per woman in a lifetime fell to 0.72 last year from 0.78 in 2022, according to data released Wednesday by South Korea's national statistics office

The Centre on Wednesday amended the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act 2021, effecting a change that comes after years of debate and advocacy and likely to benefit couples struggling with infertility

Couples opting for surrogacy must bear medical expenses, buy health insurance for the surrogate

According to industry experts, the egg-freezing market in India is still in its early stages but is poised for growth in the coming years

Boston, Massachusetts-based TA Associates is selling its 47 per cent stake in Indira IVF

An estimated one in six people globally are affected by infertility, according to a new report from the World Health Organization published on Tuesday. The global health body noted that around 17.5 per cent of the adult population experience infertility, showing the urgent need to increase access to affordable, high-quality fertility care for those in need. The new estimates show limited variation in the prevalence of infertility between regions. The rates are comparable for high-, middle- and low-income countries, indicating that this is a major health challenge globally. Lifetime prevalence was 17.8 per cent in high-income countries and 16.5 per cent in low- and middle-income countries. WHO said. "The report reveals an important truth: infertility does not discriminate," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General at WHO. "The sheer proportion of people affected show the need to widen access to fertility care and ensure this issue is no longer sidelined in health research

Fertility treatments chain Indira IVF on Tuesday announced a foray into the diagnostics sector with a Rs 60 crore investment over the next five years. The city-based company, which claims to India's largest fertility treatments chain, plans to offer pathology tests catering to the needs of women and children, as per an official statement. It plans to have over 30 laboratories by FY24, which will include centres in Lucknow, Patna, New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Udaipur, Jaipur, Varanasi, Kolkata, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar and Bengaluru, it said. The TA Associates-backed chain plans to invest Rs 50-60 crore for Indira Pathlabs over next five years which may even exceed depending on future plans and opportunities, the statement said.

An international team of researchers has found a significant decline in sperm counts over the years in many countries globally, including India. Sperm count is not only an indicator of human fertility but also that of men's health, with low levels being associated with increased risk of chronic disease, testicular cancer and a decreased lifespan, the researchers said. The decline reflects a global crisis related to modern environment and lifestyle, with broad implications for the survival of the human species, they said. The study, published on Tuesday in the journal Human Reproduction Update, used data from 53 countries. It includes an additional seven years of data collection (2011-2018) and focuses on sperm count trends among men in regions not reviewed previously, specifically South America, Asia and Africa. The data shows, for the first time, that men in those regions share the significant decline in total sperm counts (TSC) and sperm concentration (SC) seen previously in Nort

On a positive note, number of women aged 15-49 having bank or savings account they themselves used, rises to 78.6% compared to 58% in previous survey; improvement in nutrition among kids and adults

The government on Wednesday released the factsheets of key indicators on population, reproductive and child health, family welfare, nutrition and others

When the University of Michigan began to cover IVF in 2015, Dupree and his colleagues saw an opportunity to study how big of an impact insurance coverage might make

The absolute risk of delivering an IVF baby with malformations is very low. It is same as in a spontaneous pregnancy

Many government hospitals do not have the setup to carry out In-Vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer