Mumbai’s fertility clinic appeared as a light of hope for couples with infertility issues, especially those who come from poor backgrounds.

In October 2023, the fertility clinic initiated operations at the civic-run Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital and Medical College, which is also known as Sion Hospital.

Head of the fertility clinic and associate professor at the hospital's gynecology department, Dr. Archana Bhosale, said among the 155 women who are undergoing the treatment in the clinic, 23 have already conceived. She added to the news agency PTI that most of these women belonged to lower-income groups.

Various factors, like the menstrual cycle, age, and other challenges, make the treatment expensive.

Women residents of Mumbai's slum areas like Dharavi (slum colony), Govandi, and Mankhurd, as well as other parts of the city, who are from poor family backgrounds, come for treatment at the fertility clinic.

The treatments at the clinic fulfill the dreams of couples who desire to have a child but, due to infertility issues, cannot conceive.

Dr. Archana told PTI that they also plan to offer more advanced assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures, specifically those that fall under level 2. Dr. Mohan Joshi, Sion Hospital dean, said they are planning to start the ART level 2 treatment soon. They have received a donation of Rs 2.5 crore from a social organization for the procurement of machinery, including an embryo storage facility.

They have also found a place on 60 Feet Road in Dharavi for setting up the clinic to provide ART-2 treatment. New machines are being put up. They will reach the final destination of IVF soon. It will be at a negligible cost. For the poor, they always have donors.

Till now, the fertility clinic has provided ART-level-1 fertility treatments, which include ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination (IUI), fertility medicines, and cycle monitoring.

At a private hospital, ART level-1 treatments cost Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 60,000 per cycle. However, Sion conducts the entire treatment at a cost of Rs. 2,500, including medicines.

A 25-year-old woman who is a resident of Kharghar, after being diagnosed with PCOD (polycystic ovarian disease), sought treatment at the clinic. She is now in her sixth month of pregnancy, with the help of a successful intervention. The woman expressed thanks to the Sion Hospital for giving her new hope in life.

The fertility clinic is equipped with the required machinery, like an ultrasound machine, that helps them determine the precise timing for processes like IUI.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Komal Bhoi/MSM)