A recent study conducted at Cama and Albless Hospital reveals that the majority of couples seeking infertility assistance in Mumbai’s government facilities hail from urban settings and often postpone medical consultations for extended periods. The research identifies ovulatory disorders as a significant factor contributing to infertility cases.
Published in the International Journal of Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Pharma Research on April 6, 2026, the study is titled “Study of Demographic and Clinical Profiles of Patients Attending an ART Centre in a Tertiary Care Government Hospital.” The authors, Dr. Afifa Naushad, Dr. Tushar Palve, and Dr. Rajashree Thatikonda, examined the profiles of 60 patients who visited the hospital’s Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) center from August to October 2025.
The results indicate that 96.6% of the patients originated from urban areas, suggesting a lack of access and awareness regarding infertility treatment in rural communities. Approximately half of the patients were aged between 31 and 35 years, with an average age of around 33, highlighting a trend of delayed childbearing and late initiation of treatment.
A significant issue raised by the researchers is the tendency to postpone seeking medical help. Dr. Palve noted, “Our findings show that over 41.6% of the couples had been married for 5 to 10 years before they visited the ART center, while 28.4% waited more than a decade. Only 30% sought assistance within the first five years of marriage.”
The study found that primary infertility accounted for 51.67% of the cases, which was slightly more than that of secondary infertility. Interestingly, structural issues, such as blocked fallopian tubes, were not the primary causes, as over 70% of the patients had normal tubal patency. This suggests that ovulatory dysfunction and hormonal imbalances are the main factors affecting this demographic.
Treatment approaches reflected a systematic method appropriate for public healthcare. Ovulation induction emerged as the most frequently used treatment, followed by intrauterine insemination, while in vitro fertilization was planned for a smaller subset of patients. The overall pregnancy success rate reported in the study was 8.3%.
The researchers emphasized that delays in seeking treatment, coupled with limited awareness and financial barriers, continue to impact patient outcomes. This underscores the necessity for early intervention and enhanced outreach efforts within public health systems to better support those in need.
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