“15 to 20 pc couples can’t conceive”

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 27: Couples who could not conceive were very rare some decades back but today cases of infertility or couples who cannot conceive are becoming quite common in every locality.
The rise of infertility clinics and hospitals with IVF facilities in the State is an undeniable proof of the growing cases of infertility.
Acme Fertility and Health Care Centre’s chief consultant and infertility specialist Dr James Elangbam told The Sangai Express said that women entering into wedlock at older ages is becoming the trend in Manipur, particularly among the Meiteis and this is contributing a lot to the rising cases of infertility.
He said that 15 to 20 per cent of couples in the State  are unable to conceive and this is a matter of serious concern for everyone.
Cases of infertility can be attributed to either women or men or both. Generally, males account for 40 per cent of infertility cases while females are responsible for another 40 per cent. Defects or weaknesses in both the partners account for 15 per cent infertility cases while in five cases, couples cannot conceive even though neither of the partners has any problem, Dr James said.
According to a report of the National Library of Medicine, a National representative survey was carried out in 2019-20 and it was found 18.7 couples in every 1000 couples who have been married for five years could not conceive.
The same report says that prevalence of infertility in women within one year of marriage was 42.9 per thousand. For women between one and two years of marriage, the prevalence rate was 30.7 per one thousand.
Prevalence of infertility among women between three and four years of marriage was 24.1 per one thousand while the figure for women between four and five years of marriage was 20.7 per thousand. For women who were married for over five years, the infertility figure was 18.7 per thousand.
The survey reported that the prevalence of infertility  among Manipuri women who were married for one year was 30 per thousand which means 151 out of 5041 women could not conceive.
The corresponding figures for women who were married for two years, three years, four years and five years were 23.9, 19.8, 17.5 and 16.2 per thousand respectively.
India’s infertility rate in 2019-20 was 18.7 per thousand. The corresponding figure for Manipur was 16.2 per thousand, according to the survey.
Dr James Elangbam said that infertility generally refers to inability to conceive after a woman has been married for one year. If the woman is above 30 years and she cannot conceive within six months of getting married, it will be called infertility.
He said that women entering into wedlock at late years is one major factor for the rising cases of infertility. Nowadays, women entering into wedlock after 30 years of age is becoming a trend. Prioritization of career over married life and putting off marriage until one gets a job or secured source of income are contributing immensely to infertility, he said.
The changing lifestyle, consumption of alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse are also contributing to infertility.
23 to 32/34 years of age is generally considered to be the reproductive age, he said. Chances of infertility are high if a woman is suffering from late or irregular menstruation, limited volume of menstruation, obesity and pimples, Dr James said.
“No doubt, careers are important but we must also think for the community/Nation too”, he said.      
Considering the alarming situation, the Government needs to pay special attention to the issue and take up appropriate measures, he asserted.
He mentioned that greater numbers of infertility cases were detected in places where female literacy rate is higher.
Women Action for Development secretary M Sobita said that motherhood is the most cherished dream of every woman. She then asserted that it is important for women to get married once they attain the age socially and scientifically approved for marriage. All stakeholders including the community, Government, localities and families need to work collectively in order to address the growing cases of infertility, Sobita said.
She added that every child is an asset of the community.