People should accept those who choose to have children through IVF and surrogacy if they are not breaking rules or harming the society, says a noted Mumbai-based fertility expert.
She also revealed that scientists are working on developing stem cells-related technologies where procreation in humans could happen without intercourse.
Dr Firuza Parikh, Director, Department of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics at Mumbai's Jaslok Hospital told PTI here that people should accept those who choose to have children through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy, as done by a Bollywood actor recently, till they do not break rules or harm the society.
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"Everybody has a right to procreation. If the person is not breaking any rules, he or she is not harming society in any way. All of us have our biological needs. It should be fulfilled. As doctors, we are non-judgemental. But, if we can help somebody achieve happiness without breaking laws, then society should be large-hearted to accept such people into their fold," she said.
Parikh said the trend of people opting to be single parents in the present day society due to a variety of reasons like focusing on careers and divorce, is gathering momentum.
"We already have single parents. We have so many women who are single and have opted for it. The reason why more and more people are opting for it is perhaps they don't want to get married or they are divorced or perhaps they are independent and have the ability to look after," she said.
Single parents also have the support of extended family and are now bold enough to take the decision of being a single parent, Parikh said.
Notably, Bollywood actor Tusshar Kapoor recently became a single father of a baby boy who was born through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy.
On new researches in the field of fertility, Parikh said, "...People are working on creating (identifying) stem cells which will be able to be converted into egg cells and sperm cells."
The scenario may become a reality in another 10 or 15 years, she said.
She also expressed her views that women who do not wish to have children at an early age should freeze their eggs before it is too late.
