India’s fertility rate faces sharp decline amid rising concern over lifestyle factors, infertility

Dr Sabine Kapasi, global strategy lead of the UN’s emergency response team, said: “We can create insurance systems … and make them easier to access so that if a person or a couple chooses to go for a fertility treatment, then it does not become economically heavy for them and does not result in a spiral down for the family.”

In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment costs start from about US$1,200 in India, out of reach for many in a country where tens of millions live below the poverty line.

Even if such treatments become more accessible, there remains the challenge whereby culturally in India, great importance is placed particularly on natural fertility.

There is social stigma and misconceptions associated with IVF treatment in India, said doctors.

That has forced some couples to hide the fact that they conceived a child through IVF, even from their immediate family.