In-Vitro-Fertilisation (IVF) is truly a miracle technology that can help you bear a child despite infertility, provided, of course, that you have the money for it. It is indeed a costly procedure. So, it is imperative that you educate yourself before starting the procedure to make sure you do your best to achieve a successful pregnancy through IVF.
One of the first steps for officially starting your IVF journey is choosing the right IVF centre. There are some regulations and criteria that the Indian Government has established, that mention clearly which centres and professionals can perform IVF legally. To understand these laws, which can help you see which IVF centres have all the verified amenities that you will need on your IVF journey, the OnlyMyHealth team spoke to Dr Vaishali Chaudhary, Director, IVF & Fertility, Sahyadri Super Speciality Hospitals, Pune.
ART Guidelines For IVF Centres
All these guidelines have been mentioned in the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 and the Assisted Reproduction Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2021. Dr Chaudhary explained, “For any clinic or hospital to call itself an IVF centre, it has to be authorised as per certain criteria.” She listed 4 main things that you should take note of before choosing the right IVF centre for you.
IVF Expert’s Qualification
Not just any gynaecologist can be an IVF expert in India. Dr Chaudhary mentioned, “For a doctor to become an IVF expert, they need to have a specialised degree in reproductive medicine.”
“After that, the doctor needs to be practicing IVF for a minimum of three years or 50 cases under an IVF expert’s supervision,” she added.
An Onboard Andrologist At The Clinic
“Check if the IVF clinic you are looking at has an andrologist onboard who has a post graduate degree or PhD in urology,” said Dr Chaudhary. According to the National Guidelines for Accredition, Supervision & Regulation of ART Clinics in India, 50% of the cases of infertility in a couple has to do with the male, many of which can be treated through non invasive procedures. The male has an equal part to play in the journey to parenthood. To address the reproductive health concerns of the male, there needs to be an andrologisat on board.
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Availability of Counsellors
Dr Chaudhary said, “The most important thing for starting an IVF centre is to have a counsellor on board. This is because the couples need to be counselled about about the future of their, the implications of this treatment, the cost, time duration and the success rates of the treatment.”
Although the laws have not made it mandatory for the couples to undergo counselling if they do not want to, however, such counselling is generally recommended as it can be beneficial to manage expectations before beginning the procedure.
Sperm/Egg Bank At The IVF Clinic
Lastly, Dr Chaudhary shared that the IVF clinic must have a sperm or egg bank in case the couples after a basic check up feel like they are in need of donor gametes. Hence, she recommended that before starting your process at a clinic, check if the IVF centre has an egg or sperm bank of their own.
Also Read: Centre Questions Siddhu Moose Wala’s Mother’s IVF Pregnancy: India’s IVF Laws You Must Know
Pregnancy is a delicate journey, full of ups and down. Although IVF offers a new lease to couples dealing with infertility, it is a costly and delicate procedure that needs to be explored mindfully. Be aware of your rights and responsibilities when starting your IVF journey. It will help you navigate your way to parenthood without difficulties.