Friday, July 19, 2013


They say the ultimate experience in life is motherhood and every couple at some point of their lives wants to experience the feeling of welcoming their little bundle of joy. However stressful work environments, erratic lifestyle and eating habits retaking a toll on their reproductive cycles of couples. For such infertile couples IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) is a convenient option. IVF basically involves an egg that is fertilized by the sperm outside the body. Different forms of IVF include surrogacy, embryo transfer, donor egg treatment and so on. IVF has gradually gained popularity in India resulting in a sharp spike in the number of fertility clinics across the country. However the poor quality of IVF documentation could hurt its future prospects and reputation in the country.

Most IVF patients in India grapple with a lack of awareness about the various procedures involved. It has been observed that most patients complaint, because they are unaware of the exact dosage required for ovulation the quality of the embryos, the number of eggs retrieved and many such aspects. Eventually disheartened couples, who have failed multiple IVF cycles, end up chasing the doors of different clinics in hope of a silver lining.

In order to tackle the problem, there is an urgent need to revamp the IVF treatment regulations. Patients should be handed a pamphlet beforehand that explains the nitty-gritty’s of the procedure which helps them prepare better for their scheduled IVF cycles. The IVF needs to have a pro-active approach and guide his patients through the process. Quite often doctors are perceived to be busy or in a hurry to get done with the procedure. IVF is a very sensitive procedure wherein the Doctor needs to be patient enough to answer all the queries raised by the patient. Remember certain parts of the society attach a stigma to the IVF procedure in the form of ridicule, verbal abuses and so on which could make couples reluctant to opt for it. India also needs specific laws with respect to infertility treatment to ensure transparency and making clinics accountable for unethical practices.

Inability of the Doctor to spell out the details coupled with procedural flaws could hurt the reputation of IVF clinics in India. Unhappy couples could lose faith in the procedure and start perceiving all IVF doctors as incompetent and efficient. Failure of IVF cycles is bound to raise certain uncomfortable questions. However a Doctor who proves his clinic meets the requisite standards for this procedure can earn the continued faith of his patients. For example: Even if an IVF cycle fails the doctor can salvage his reputation by showing the couples photos of the transferred embryos and so on. Thus documents which reveal good-quality medical care will automatically give patients peace of mind.
When an IVF cycle fails most couples will opt for a second or third opinion. When other doctors refer to the case, the documentation needs to be in place so that they don’t suspect something amiss. Patients also need to be proactive and demand information from their doctors from time-to-time. This will keep the Doctors on their toes and they will realize that patients cannot be taken for granted.

Hence the most crucial aspect of IVF procedure is good quality documentation. This is a procedure that is followed routinely in other medical procedures such as appendectomy, a hysterectomy or a laparoscopy. Surprisingly when it comes to IVF different yardsticks come into play. Remember IVF is about bringing smiles to childless couples and transforming their lives.

POSTED BY DR.MALPANI
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