The thinking is changing rapidly in India that infertility is only a women’s problem. Fertility experts say that now a large number of men are coming forward for testing and treatment. Due to changing lifestyle, increasing stress and the trend of delaying parenthood, fertility related problems are increasing in men. This change can be clearly seen in the IVF industry of the country.
According to a report in *Business Standard*, experts say that male factors – alone or in combination with female factors – are responsible for about 40 to 50 percent of infertility cases today. As a result, fertility clinics are rapidly expanding their facilities to examine and treat men. Dr. Rohit Gutgutia, medical director of Nova IVF Fertility in Kolkata, says that cases of male infertility at his center have increased by about 25 percent in the last five years. Most of the men getting tested are in the age group of 30 to 35 years.
**Increase in business**
Moreover, India’s in-vitro fertilization (IVF) market is growing rapidly. There are more than 2,000 IVF clinics operating across the country in this industry worth approximately $1.4 billion. Currently, 200,000 to 250,000 IVF cycles are performed annually in India. Experts estimate that this figure may increase to around 400,000 by 2030, with Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities expected to play an important role in this growth.
Industry experts say that for many small and medium-sized IVF centres, male fertility testing, counseling and treatment accounts for about 40 percent of total revenue. According to a Delhi-based IVF center official, a cycle using advanced technologies like ICSI can cost between ₹1.2 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh. Additionally, the initial consultation, check-up and tests can cost ₹20,000 or more depending on the age of the patient and the clinic.
**Is the problem increasing compared to before?**
Dr. Manika Khanna, Chairperson of Gaudium IVF, says that whereas earlier male-related causes were found in one out of every four couples, now this figure has increased to almost one out of every three couples. One reason for this change is increasing awareness; However, problems like low sperm count, low sperm motility and disturbances in sperm structure are also being seen more than before.
**What are the reasons responsible for increasing infertility?**
Doctors say that there are many reasons for increasing infertility in men. Obesity, diabetes, smoking, chronic stress, not getting enough sleep and sedentary work habits can affect reproductive health. Using a laptop in the lap for a long time, wearing very tight clothes and continuous sitting habits can increase the temperature of the testicles, which can affect the process of sperm formation.
**Chances of pregnancy may be reduced**
Additionally, some chemicals found in plastics, pesticides, food packaging and industrial pollution can disrupt the body’s hormonal balance. The use of anabolic steroids – often taken without medical advice to build muscle – is also thought to be harmful to male fertility. Experts also believe that the trend of delaying marriage or starting a family – often for career or economic reasons – impacts men’s fertility. Sperm quality decreases with increasing age, which can reduce the chances of pregnancy.
The number of men undergoing fertility tests is increasing rapidly – not only in big metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, but also in tier-2 and tier-3 cities like Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Bhopal. Doctors emphasize that infertility is not just a man’s or woman’s problem, but it is a problem for the entire couple.
