Experiences with Fertility Treatments in India

I am a 37 year old married woman, eagerly aspiring to motherhood(being a mom), this is my first long  (1.5 years) exposure to the Indian Gynaecological Medical experience.

I first met my gynaecologist; she came highly recommended from trusted friends who are mothers themselves, in mid 2013. She is young and talented doctor, approachable and a typical South Indian family doctor educated in England. Her husband is a Heart Surgeon, so all in all a trusted doctor. So it was very easy decision in placing my ovaries and body in her hand.

My first appointment was easy enough, she asked for my age, previous pregnancy attempts, lifestyle habits, etc. She also wanted to know how long we had been trying to get pregnant. I have not been pregnant before and nor have had any complications. I had found when I was 26 that I have PCOD. The doctor then told me that I would need to start with treatments only if I wanted to get pregnant, which I did not at that point in time, so I continued to live my life. My work took me travelling around the country and the world, which meant I had a hectic life and a very social lifestyle. After my marriage at the age of 33 yrs, I wanted to give some time to our relationship and 3 years down the line started to think on the lines of being a mother. We had not specifically used any contraceptives for the last 1 year. So the lack of pregnancy clearly showed me there was something amiss.

Based on the doctor’s recommendation we took a few tests including hormone’s test (LSH: FSH ratio), insulin level, blood tests to negate any sexual diseases and my husband took a hormone test and fertility test including sperm count and motility. The results were as follows: My FSH (Follicle Stimulating hormone) count was very low and I had an insulin resistance. My husband results were fine.

 

Based on the results, the gynaecologist confirmed that I had PCOD (Polycystic Ovarian Disorder)

By this time more than 6 months had flown by and I had invested Rs.13000 on the hormone test for us. Our appointments and scan were each Rs.500 .I was aware that my age and my lifestyle were an impediment, so I asked the doctor that question that every woman hoping to be a mother asks. “Am I too old to be a mother? Can I become a mother biologically, do I have a defect? Do I have to try IVF?” My doctor very calmly told me that I can be a mother and that PCOD is common enough, with 1 out of every 4 women suffering from this condition, and that this can be fixed. She also assured me, that I will be a mother in a year or so at least by the time I am 38 years old. I left the gynaecologist feeling very confident of her and my abilities.

The journey is far from over, this is just the start, if you or any one you know are in the same situation as me, I'd recommend that you start research early on and get yourself tested and be prepared for an arduous journey.

Empower yourself with information of the best resources available to you, website like Zywee.com provide information about doctors & tests that one can get done, should one find themselves in this situation.

Part 1