IVF comes as boon to career women

Hyderabad: “I am a career-oriented person, and I have decided to freeze my eggs. It is my body, my choice and my life,” said Kanan Malhotra an advertising professional. Many women like her in the city are no longer worried by the biological clock impeding their careers.

Speaking to The Hans India, Dr Sai Lakshmi Daayana, a Gynecology consultant at Apollo Institutes of Cancer, said, “Unlike men whose sperm production continues throughout the life and a batch of sperm is produced every six days, a woman has a limited reserve of eggs, and they age with her: eggs of a 33-year-old woman are also 33 years old.” In the last few years, women have been increasingly visiting fertility clinics. The success in freezing eggs has improved dramatically over the years, and the data for its safety is reassuring, adds Lakshmi.

Former Miss World Diana Hayden gave birth to a baby in 2016 from an egg that was frozen eight years ago. Diana’s eggs were frozen when she was single with a busy successful career and was diagnosed with endometriosis, a disorder in which tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus. Egg freezing is a god-send option for women who want to control their reproductive future. Most couples spend about three to five lakh rupees on their IVF treatment, and the women’s age is one of the most important factors in determining the success of an IVF treatment. Women under 35 have nearly 32 per cent chances of successful pregnancy with her first IVF treatment, and women over 39 may need five or more IVF treatments in order to get pregnancy.

In fact, some older women seeking IVF treatment may need to buy younger and healthier eggs from egg donors at a price that ranges from Rs. 20,000 to 40,000. The number of inquiries is increasing, but it takes several consultations before a woman decides, said Arvind, a fertility specialist. The idea has still to gain traction in all segments of the society. Family members play an important part in decision making, he added.