Telangana’s Fertility Rate Falls to 1.5, Experts Call for Greater Transparency in Fertility Care

Hyderabad: Telangana’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has declined to around 1.5 children per woman, significantly below the replacement level of 2.1, prompting fertility experts and healthcare stakeholders to call for greater awareness, transparency and ethical practices in assisted reproductive technology (ART).

The issue was discussed at a panel discussion titled “Beyond IVF: Building Trust, Ethics and Awareness in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)”, hosted by Nova IVF Fertility, Hyderabad. The discussion focused on patient rights, ethical fertility treatment and the importance of understanding the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 before undergoing fertility procedures.

The panel brought together experts from fertility care, law enforcement, medico-legal services and the media. The session was moderated by Dr Hima Deepthi, Clinical Director and Senior Fertility Specialist at Nova IVF Fertility.

The panellists highlighted that infertility affects nearly one in six couples, making access to safe and transparent fertility treatment an increasingly important public health issue.

Experts Stress Patient Awareness of ART Act

Assistant Commissioner of Police, P. Murali Krishna, Panjagutta Division, Hyderabad City Police, said the rapid development of IVF and assisted reproductive technology has also created opportunities for malpractice by unscrupulous operators.

He stressed that the ART Regulation Act, 2021 provides a legal framework to address unlawful practices and urged fertility organisations to prominently display information about the Act and educate patients about their legal rights and safeguards.

Shobhit Agarwal, CEO of Nova IVF Fertility, said regulation alone was not sufficient and that patients needed to understand their rights and what constitutes ethical fertility care.

He emphasised the importance of collaboration between policymakers, regulators, law enforcement and the media to strengthen public confidence in assisted reproduction.

Informed Consent and Transparency Crucial

Senior medico-legal consultant Dr Geetendra Sharma said the ART Act provides important protections covering areas such as written consent, confidentiality, patient rights, documentation and accountability of fertility clinics.

He urged both patients and doctors involved in assisted reproductive technology to understand the legal provisions governing fertility treatment. According to him, informed patients are better positioned to choose clinics that comply with ART regulations and make appropriate treatment decisions.

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Health journalist and Newsmeter Executive Editor Kaniza Garari highlighted the media’s role in providing accurate information about infertility and countering misinformation.

She said responsible reporting can help reduce the stigma surrounding infertility and discourage couples from relying on unverified information when making healthcare decisions.

Checklist for Couples Seeking Fertility Treatment

The panel advised couples to consider several factors before beginning fertility treatment:

• Verify that the fertility clinic is registered and ART Act-compliant.
• Understand the proposed treatment, costs and realistic success rates.
• Seek appropriate medical, financial and emotional counselling.
• Carefully read and provide informed consent before treatment.
• Ensure that the clinic provides privacy, transparency and ethical care.

The discussion concluded that strengthening India’s assisted reproductive technology ecosystem requires more than regulatory compliance. Experts stressed that as fertility becomes an increasingly important public health concern, particularly amid declining birth rates, couples should have access to transparent, ethical and quality fertility care.

Nova IVF Fertility, part of Asia Healthcare Holdings, operates more than 120 centres across 75-plus cities in India and provides a range of fertility and assisted reproductive treatments. The organisation said it has supported more than 100,000 clinical pregnancies through its reproductive technologies.