More than a year after it introduced its first In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment, at its super-specialty block, the Goa Medical College and Hospital at Bambolim has reportedly tasted its first success on Tuesday and celebrated the birth of a baby girl by a caesarean section procedure. It is learnt that Goa is among the few states in India that offer free IVF treatment for couples. Private hospitals have been providing the facility for a long time.
However, the entire treatment can cost up to Rs 3 lakh per cycle in the private healthcare sector. Some estimates peg infertility among couples in Goa at approximately 20 percent. If most of these couples, particularly those from economically challenged strata of society, opt for IVF procedure at the GMC Hospital, the Hospital will have to bear a huge cost. For conditions like unexplained infertility, other methods are usually the first line of treatment and IVF is considered by many to be the last resort.
IVF has some disadvantages. The risk of having more than one baby increases if more than one embryo is transferred. IVF may slightly increase the risk of birth defects, such as heart issues or digestive problems. It may increase the risk of premature delivery. Babies may be born with low birth weight.
