EXPLORING THE ETIOLOGY OF FEMALE INFERTILITY IN INDIA: A NATIONWIDE SURVEY ANALYSIS

Background: Female infertility is a substantial but sometimes disregarded factor in infertility in couples. The problem is made more difficult to resolve by social shame, cultural hurdles, and a dearth of thorough data on female infertility. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the current clinical practices, diagnostic approaches, and management strategies for female infertility among gynaecologists in India. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive survey was conducted during the 19th Annual Conference of the Indian Fertility Society (IFS), FERTIVISION-2023. A total of 1039 gynaecologists from various regions of India participated. The survey comprised 11 key questions on various aspects such as the percentage of female patients, common age, most common causes of infertility, prevalence of tubal factors, preferred ovulation induction drug in intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles, the prevalence of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and the preferred methods of ovulation tracking. Results: Amongst the participants, 38.80% (n=435) reported that 11-15% of their female patients faced fertility-related issues, the majority of women (39.3%) were in the 25–29 year age group. In our survey, the prevalence of tubal factor infertility was reported to be 5%–10%, with 37.63% respondents. Notably, regional differences were observed, with Northern India reporting the highest prevalence of female infertility. Conclusion: The analysis reveals notable differences in how female infertility is diagnosed and treated in various Indian areas. These results highlight the necessity of standardised diagnostic procedures, raised awareness, and thorough training for Indian healthcare professionals.