Femina Health Series: The Transformation Seen In IVF Treatments – Start Your Joy

With the changing times, we have seen that medical treatments and options available are progressing swiftly, as is the choice for couples to opt for fertility treatments. While it was seen as the last resort a few years back, today, IVF treatment is being actively sought after, as a well-evaluated option by couples. Over the years, there have been many advancements in the field, and with that safety and health of the patients remain of paramount importance for the practitioners. Even then, there are many doubts and questions in the minds of those seeking IVF, so our special panelists today will shed ample light on the latest technology and developments.

So, Femina, in association with Bharat Serums and Vaccines Ltd hosted a CEO Forum Panel Discussion on The Transformation Seen In IVF Treatments as part of the Femina Dialogues – The Health Series.

The discussion saw comments and suggestions from Mr Vinesh Gadhia – India CEO, ART Fertility Clinics and Dr Kshitiz Murdia – CEO & Co-founder, Indira IVF Centre.

Mr Gadhia has over 28 years of experience in healthcare and has been instrumental in advancing the fertility industry in India. In his prior career stints, he successfully built commercial teams, developed strategy, and expanded scientific partnerships throughout healthcare market.

Dr Murdia is one of the youngest professionals to have led an organisation to such success. He is passionate about clinical research and has a number of articles published in reputed national and international journals, including British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (BJOG) and Frontiers in Endocrinology (Lausanne).

The discussion, moderated by Shraddha Kamdar, Production Editor – Femina, started off with understanding the developments that have occurred in the field over the years, and how the treatment today is far more advanced than ever before even though IVF is a relatively new field in medical science.

Mr Gadhia mentioned that he believed that the discover by Professor Dr Bruno Lunenfled of hormones being extracted was the main milestone towards treating infertility among couples. He also credited the invention of the procedure of In Vitro Fertlisation (IVF) by Dr Patrick Steptoe and Dr Robert Edwards as a major step forward. Post that, he mentioned there are many developments which make the IVF procedure – where in the embryo is fertilised outside the body – better and more effective.

Dr Murdia then spoke about the increase in awareness of the infertility conditions and treatments over the years. “One major change that I have witnessed in the last decade or so is the awareness. The fact that people are ready to talk. Initially there was a fear of social stigma, or blaming women only, but that is changing,” he said. A big step towards improvement in numbers was that couples were ready to come to clinics and discuss it has a medical problem with the doctors and talking openly about it.

The panellists also mentioned how it was a rapidly changing field, and measures are taken to make procedures more friendly. Despite that, lack of awareness and accessibility to clinics prevents the field to grow to its fullest potential in the country.

Collectively the artificial intelligence and new drugs and methods are helping couples getting more positive outcomes. Mr Gadhia started working on opening the minds of the couples towards infertility as a medical disease about a decade ago. He mentioned that couples, when they realise the problem, go to a gynaecologist for treatment and diagnoses, keep changing doctors and beliefs. Until the gynaecologists do not refer them to an IVF centre, couples will go through rounds of futile treatments, losing precious time in the bargain. Time, Dr Murdia mentioned was the single most important factor in getting an IVF cycle and its outcome.

The experts believed that creating educational and awareness programmes was necessary by clinics. They also said that chains of clinics can better enable gather and enable resources for treatment, which improves the patient experience and also, outcomes, all this at an affordable cost, owing to economies of scale. They also caution the viewers, that even though the treatment of an IVF cycle is perceived to be costly, it is in fact, one of the best, most modern and goal-oriented with high positive results in the country. If clinics were to reduce the costs any further, it would compromise on the quality of the treatment.

In the concluding segment, the CEOs spoke about the need to act fast, and not waste time over other treatments, if infertility is diagnosed.

Bharat Serums and Vaccines Ltd is one of the fastest growing bio pharmaceutical companies In India. For over 50 years now, Bharat Serums and Vaccines has used its scientific resources to develop a range of biological, biotech and pharmaceutical products to treat various types of diseases, especially in the IVF, women’s health and critical care space, and continues to contribute to preserve, protect and enhance the quality of life.