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She has had her training in artificial insemination in Australia and other European countries. GG Hospital has all the latest equipment and is the foremost in helping couple to beget a child of their own. Kamala Selvaraj successfully developed the first test tube baby of South India, born to a 47-year-old woman, who remained childless for 30 years after marriage. She was the brain and the medical aid behind India’s first child born through a surrogate mother. From an interview with her… Q: What are the reasons for infertility, doctor? There are several factors responsible for infertility. Low sperm count may be one of the reasons for male impotency. In the case of ladies, it may be due to lack of proper growth of the embryo, blocks in the fallopian tube etc. Or it may be due to low endometriosis or the destruction/diminution of ova at a very young age. Any one of these may be reason or they may be other than these. Sometimes, a couple remains childless for no reason. This can be remedied by getting the required ova from a donor.
This is a heredity-related problem. The child has much lower count of eggs at birth and it keeps diminishing as the girl grows up. If this defect is found in the elder daughter, it is advisable that the younger daughter is given in marriage, at an early age. Q: What is the appropriate time to seek medical assistance? Those below the age of 25 should seek medical assistance they don’t conceive within two years of marriage. Those above 30 should see the doctor within a period of six months. Generally, early medical assistance is required, as the age advances. Q: How is impotency looked upon in the society? Have you come across any wrong notions about its cure? Childless couples are not respected. Many couples yearn for a child and such pressures from their surroundings make them look for any available remedy. Men lose their potency by the regular use of intoxicants.
The fact is that in most of the cases it is the men who I have seen a number of such couple. They come to me in a highly depressed state of mind. They would be prepared to do anything for a child. The saddest part is women are the most affected in such a situation. Q: Does tuberculosis affect the growth of embryo? Yes. It affects. It reaches the fallopian tube through blood circulation and affects its growth. Such couple may opt for a test tube baby. Q: What are the legalities involved in matters like artificial insemination, surrogate mother, etc. There is no legislation. In fact no legislation is required. This is a matter involving a husband, his wife and a surrogate mother. This is their personal issue and does not require and legislation to regulate it. They have to discuss and decide among themselves.
I don’t favour adoption. It leads to mental trauma at a later stage, if the adopted child goes astray, when it grows up. Another undesirable aspect of adoption is the way it is used to exploit the couple involved, commercially. Interviewed by Nandakumar |
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