Infertility is a serious health issue worldwide affecting about 8-10% of the population. According to the Indian society of assisted reproduction, infertility currently affects 10-14% of the population, where one in every 6 six couples are impacted. This alarming trend affects young couples to procreate.

Rapid urbanization, hormonal imbalance, exposure to vehicular pollution, work pressure, unhealthy food habits, and a sedentary lifestyle are the salient reasons for infertility.

Stigma:

It is still a common misconception, that female factors account for most of the cases of infertility and that is the reason when a couple faces fertility issues; it is the woman who first visits a gynaecologist. 

However, infertility is an inherently complex problem affecting both the partners. Male infertility is making headlines these days, as they account for 30-40% of the infertility cases. Thus, both male and female partners equally contribute to childlessness.

Testing factors:

So it is equally important to investigate different factors contributing to male and female fertility. Some of the parameters to check infertility in men are semen analysis, hormonal testing, testicular biopsy, vasography and genetic testing and in women, assessing their ovulation, ovarian reserve, hysterosalpingography, hormonal and genetic testing.

As a gynaecologist, you can perform preliminary tests in women to assess infertility before referring your female patients to an infertility specialist. But this could delay testing the malefactors, which also play a role in the state of infertility.

So by specialising in the field of infertility, you can perform, comprehensive tests to check the degree of infertility, provide treatment options including conventional strategies and assisted reproduction techniques and solutions to the couples approaching you, without further delays.

Indian infertility rates:

According to the Revision report 2017, it is estimated that the fertility rates in India have nosedived from 4.97 childbirths per woman in the early 1980s to 2.3 in 2015-2020 and this is further going to plummet to 1.86 in 2045-2050. This dip in fertility rate would decline the expected population estimates. 

Prospects:

In India, the IVF service market is anticipated to provide lucrative opportunities, due to the rise in the number of incidences in infertility. This would lead to an increase in the demand for the number of infertility specialists, to provide infertility treatments and also to persuade for an advanced medical solution for infertility.

By taking an additional step to learn about infertility and its treatments, you can advance your career and help many couples in their journey from infertility to living their dream of parenthood.