Guide to safe and transparent IVF: Know all about ART Act and overcome infertility with legal protection | Health

Safeguarding Your IVF Journey:

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Bharati Dhorepatil, Consultant Infertility Expert at NOVA IVF Fertility in Pune, shared, “Couples sometimes struggle to conceive naturally due to various factors. It includes problems like delayed pregnancy planning, lifestyle choices, obesity, excessive smoking or drinking, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome ( PCOS), low sperm count and quality, slow sperm motility, blockage in the fallopian tube, uterine fibroids, irregular periods, immune problems, cystic fibrosis, semen ejection and enlargement of the scrotum vein (Varicocele).”

Given that IVF can be life-changing for couples who want to experience the joy of parenthood, Dr Bharati Dhorepatil pointed out “Undergoing IVF treatment can be emotionally exhausting but the positive outcome of becoming a parent to a healthy child makes it all worthwhile. IVF is a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART) that consists of combining eggs and sperm outside the womb in a laboratory dish. Later the fertilized eggs, also called embryos are implanted in the uterus to develop into a fetus. It might take time around two to three weeks and includes a series of processes and steps such as ovulation induction, retrieving egg, sperm collection, fertilization, embryo development, embryo transfer, luteal phase and at last pregnancy test.”

What is the ART Act?

Dr Bharati Dhorepatil answered –

• Assisted reproductive technology (ART) Act is a law that exercises control over the use of medical treatments like IVF (In vitro fertilization) to help people conceive. The primary goal of this law is to make sure that these procedures are performed under safe and ethical circumstances. It also helps ensure that it is easily accessible to all irrespective of geographical location.
• The clinics and sperm/egg banks offering these procedures should strictly follow the rules and regulations mentioned in this act to ensure safety and maintain a quality standard of the services provided. They should be registered under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
• It further emphasises punishments for those allegedly practicing same-sex selection, or unethically trying to sell human embryos or gametes.
• According to the act, the eligibility criteria for undergoing an IVF procedure is 21 to 50 years old in women and 26 to 55 years old in men. These age limits are specially curated after considering factors like declining fertility with age, and health conditions.
• ART treatments in India include IVF (In vitro fertilization), ICSI (Intracytoplasmic sperm injection), PGD (Preimplantation genetic diagnosis) and donor assistance. These treatments are legal and easily accessible for couples actively looking for solutions to overcome infertility.