Access to infertility care and ART treatment in India: A clinician's perspective

Infertility is a worldwide problem that is increasing with time. The cause of infertility can be due to either male or female factors or both. The food, environmental, occupational and psychological factors do contribute to infertility. The infertility and the present scenario of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in India with regard to the clinics, clinicians and regulatory mechanisms in vogue are discussed. The potential of India as a reproductive tourist destination and surrogacy issues is included. The social, economic, and family problems arising as a consequence of infertility are discussed. The status of ART in India is getting improved and the gap between the West and India is expected to be minimized with the influence of regulatory mechanisms introduced through ART Act in India. The salient features that have a bearing on the infertility treatment outcomes, which are being neglected, or recent findings of research are included with special reference to possible future developments in the field of ART.