Surrogacy deaths a matter of concern, says Indian Council of Medical Research
In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) comes with several risks, with one of them during the phase of artificial stimulation of the ovaries called Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS).
With surrogacy becoming a brisk business in the country, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has specified that the deaths of surrogates due to complications are a matter of concern and should be addressed at the earliest.
The much awaited Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) (Regulation) Bill and guidelines are expected to come into effect by next year. It would allow the setting up of surrogate homes in government hospitals and facilitate a proper monitoring of such cases.
In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) comes with several risks, with one of them during the phase of artificial stimulation of the ovaries called Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS). OHSS is particularly associated with injection of a hormone - human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) - used for inducing final oocyte maturation and/or triggering oocyte release.
The risk is further increased by multiple doses of hCG after ovulation and if the procedure results in pregnancy. Excessive stimulation may cause ovarian cysts and moisture in the chest cavity or the stomach and may result in serious, even fatal, consequences. "Though the incidence is around 0.1 to one per cent during the surrogacy, this is a serious concern for us. We had a meeting last month on the Bill. The Bill will soon convert into law and that'll help in better surveillance on the IVF clinics that are gaining a mushroom growth in India," said Dr Manish Banker, Member, Draft Committee for ART Bill of India, ICMR. Banker is also an infertility expert and Executive Director at Nova IVI Fertility.
"In the law, government hospitals will also be allowed to have a surrogate home. The IVF success rates are already low in government hospitals and we also don't have any specific data from any hospital about the success rate. Currently, there is no information about the deaths of surrogates. Private hospitals also don't inform the government about this rate and so the 'death' part is also not known to us. Once the law comes into effect, every hospital, clinic (private or government) will have to furnish information about complications as well as deaths," said Dr Banker.