Infertility is a medical issue that affects 80 million couples around the world, 14 percent residing in India. (Bahuguna 2003). In the article, infertility is defined as “the inability to conceive within two years of exposure to pregnancy” (World Health organization 1975), though the current definition from the World Health organization is as follows: “the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.” (WHO 2012). This is a clear medical issue, though many struggling with infertility feel it is also a social issue. The goal of this study was to look at the perspectives of well-educated gynecologist in how they manage infertility and “the extent to which they find infertility to be
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NB, a 58 year old female. Dr. NB starts with a very different explanation of infertility. “I don 't think of infertility as a disease, or even a disorder or disability. It is rather a 'state of the body in which the couple is unable to conceive within a particular time.” (Dr. NB 2012:151). Like the others, she has a different ratio of fertility issues, 40/40/10/10, 40% of the time it is in the female, 40% it is in the male, 10% it can be a combination of both, and 10% unknown. Dr. NB takes the time to explain that women in Rajasthan turn to fertility related rituals and “sadhus (holy men)” (Dr. NB 2012:151). When Dr. NB realizes her patients have no chance in conceiving she simply tells them good luck as she thinks adoption is complex, though if asked she may refer the couple to a specialist. Personally, reading through Dr. NB’s responses, for the line of work she is in, she does not act sensitive to the fact that her patients are struggling to get something they really want. She does what is asked, tests for reasons of infertility, and leaves it at …show more content…
Though the doctors do not see infertility as a specific bodily disease in the typical definition being why treatment for infertility is not an acceptable form of medical reimbursement. Examples of disease of lifestyle, causes of infertility, include the following: excessive smoking and alcohol, STD’s, poor nutrition, poor hygiene, and low frequency in intercourse. The doctors were each facing major issues that could be fixed. Ignorance, the lack of knowledge people have about what it takes to conceive a child, when, and an understanding of why if it does not happen, as doctors do not always have the time to explain everything about the situation as they would like to. Unfair competition, due to the expense of a quality gynecologist in India people often search for holy men to aid in their infertility problem. “Social awareness and effective regulatory mechanism is needed.” (Kothari 2012:156). Finally, doctor-patient relationship, who do men see if they are having infertility
NB, a 58 year old female. Dr. NB starts with a very different explanation of infertility. “I don 't think of infertility as a disease, or even a disorder or disability. It is rather a 'state of the body in which the couple is unable to conceive within a particular time.” (Dr. NB 2012:151). Like the others, she has a different ratio of fertility issues, 40/40/10/10, 40% of the time it is in the female, 40% it is in the male, 10% it can be a combination of both, and 10% unknown. Dr. NB takes the time to explain that women in Rajasthan turn to fertility related rituals and “sadhus (holy men)” (Dr. NB 2012:151). When Dr. NB realizes her patients have no chance in conceiving she simply tells them good luck as she thinks adoption is complex, though if asked she may refer the couple to a specialist. Personally, reading through Dr. NB’s responses, for the line of work she is in, she does not act sensitive to the fact that her patients are struggling to get something they really want. She does what is asked, tests for reasons of infertility, and leaves it at …show more content…
Though the doctors do not see infertility as a specific bodily disease in the typical definition being why treatment for infertility is not an acceptable form of medical reimbursement. Examples of disease of lifestyle, causes of infertility, include the following: excessive smoking and alcohol, STD’s, poor nutrition, poor hygiene, and low frequency in intercourse. The doctors were each facing major issues that could be fixed. Ignorance, the lack of knowledge people have about what it takes to conceive a child, when, and an understanding of why if it does not happen, as doctors do not always have the time to explain everything about the situation as they would like to. Unfair competition, due to the expense of a quality gynecologist in India people often search for holy men to aid in their infertility problem. “Social awareness and effective regulatory mechanism is needed.” (Kothari 2012:156). Finally, doctor-patient relationship, who do men see if they are having infertility