‘Kashmir has one of the highest infertility rates in India’

Srinagar, Dec 21: Dr Gauri Agarwal, a renowned infertility specialist with over 25 centers nationwide and internationally, is bringing her expertise to Kashmir, a region she has been serving for the last decade.

Dr Agarwal, who is widely regarded for her cutting-edge treatments and commitment to improving fertility care, is deeply concerned about the growing infertility rates in Kashmir.

Dr Agarwal highlighted that Kashmir has one of the highest infertility rates in India, with a significant increase in couples facing challenges in starting their families. She attributes this alarming trend to several factors, including late marriages, poor dietary habits, societal pressures, and inadequate medical care.

“One of the main contributors to infertility in Kashmir is the trend of late marriages. Delaying marriage often results in a delay in starting a family, which can decrease fertility rates,”Dr Agarwal said.

“In addition, there is considerable societal pressure to arrange elaborate wedding functions and to ensure financial stability before marriage. This causes undue stress on individuals, which can have negative implications on reproductive health.”

Dr Agarwal also points to unhealthy eating habits and the widespread reliance on unverified medical advice as factors exacerbating the problem. Many individuals are resorting to self-medication or visiting practitioners who administer steroids instead of addressing the root causes of infertility.

Another critical issue is the failure to conduct essential fertility tests, such as HSG (hysterosalpingography), AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone), semen analysis, and other hormonal investigations, which are crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

She strongly emphasises the importance of basic fertility investigations as the first step in any treatment plan. “The lack of proper diagnostic tests is one of the main reasons why infertility is often misdiagnosed or delayed. A thorough evaluation is critical for identifying the real causes and offering the right treatment options,” she says.

In addition to her fertility expertise, Dr. Agarwal is the founder of Genestring, an advanced in-house genetic lab that significantly enhances the success rates of IVF treatments.