Eves, with abdominal zip? hmm

“The God would have created eves with an abdominal zip, if He prefers caesarian to a normal delivery,” quipped Dr Gita Suresh from EVK Medical Centre, Chennai. She was answering to a query on "why caesarian", and the reply not just evoked laughter but also some thoughts and a healthy debate.
The venue was SNR Kalaiarangam, and the Sunday audience seemed to be more illuminated with the smiles of tiny tots and their moms. With the ambience of togetherness and happiness around, Women’s Centre was celebrating its 25th anniversary with an open forum on ‘women and wellness’.
“Infertility is a challenge that no one expects. Dealing with infertility and its treatment can be emotionally frustrating and exhausting. It can put a strain on even the best of relationships. But medicine has developed in such a way that it gives good reasons to be optimistic,” said Dr Mirudhubashini Govindrajan, clinical director of Women’s Centre.
Though the literacy rates have increased and people are more accessible about medicine, many are unaware of facts like infertility, its reasons and treatments available. A group of leading professionals from the Women’s Centre clinical team, headed by Dr Mirudhubashini, made themselves available to the women of Coimbatore through a free 2-hour open public session ‘Ask the gynaecologist’.
The first doubt from the audience was on 'fertility'. With all the specialists of Women Centre on dais, it was the infertility specialist Dr Lakshmi’s turn to answer.
“Infertility is the inability to become pregnant after one year of trying to conceive. Now a days, one of six couples suffer from infertility. Only 10 percent of the infertility is due to unknown causes,” she said.
“There are many causes for infertility which vary from women to men. Failed ovulation (the failure to develop and release egg due to some hormonal imbalance, stress, obesity etc), damaged or blocked fallopian tubes due to previous infection, surgery, tuberculosis etc, disorders of the uterus and problems around the uterus, age and other hormonal disorders can cause infertility in females while low or abnormal sperm count, stress, ill-health, hormonal problems, diabetes mellitus, smoking, tobacco and alcohol consumption can be the reasons in males.”
"Infertility can be treated. It can be sometimes cured with medications and not surgery, if known in the earlier stage," she added.
Meanwhile, a slip was passed on to the stage. Dr Suganya read it out, a question on sperm and embryo freezing. Dr Mirudhubashini explained on the situation that leads to sperm and embryo freezing and extend to which it can be kept frozen, said, “Well… often sperm is frozen when a man undergo some serious surgeries or treatments like chemotherapy, where there are chances of decrease in sperm count. Or it can happen when the husband may not be available at the time of sperm collection for test tube baby or in vitro fertilisation.”
“… And about the extend to which it can be kept frozen defers on conditions available. Anyway, embryos can be preserved for years.”
The next question was on in vitro fertilization and formation of embryos. Saranya, the embryologist was ready with her answer. “In vitro fertilization is a technology where human eggs, sperms and embryos are handled and grown outside the human body, in a very controlled environment with the optimum temperature needed. The embryo is then placed into the mother’s womb after a few days, to grow further into a baby,” she said. "It is this stage where the need for embryo freezing arises. If the implantation happens to be unsuccessful, then the embryos, collected and kept frozen, can be used."
Implantation unsuccessful?, came the next question.
Mirudhubashini now asks Dr Saradha to explain.
“Implantation is the term used for the process of keeping embryo back in uterus. If there is any further problem inside the uterus, which is causing a hindrance for the growth of the baby, then it is called implantation failure,” she explained. "The laboratory conditions are the most important aspect of implantation. The sperm, egg nor embryo should be kept in a temperature outside 37 degree, that it can cause abnormalities in them."
Dr Suresh and Dr Indrani Suresh from Mediscan, Chennai, had no hesitation answering a query from a mother on whether the doctors would support abortion in case of any abnormalities found. "Doctors are the advocates of the unborn. A doctor only has the right to save a life. He will never ask for an abortion unless the situation demands."
On the future mental and physical sufferings of such babies, he quoted one of his experiences where a childless mother who conceived after treatment, was shocked to know that her baby was handicapped. Though abortion was suggested she said that if the baby can be kept alive at least for a few seconds after the birth her motherhood will be fulfilled. “…It depends on attitude. It’s a baby of our own that matter. All the rest comes after that for a childless couple,” he added.
“Today, women are less pain tolerant. They can’t tolerate the delivery pain, which was once considered the privilege and happiness of womanhood. Some working couples also 'plan pregnancy', some want delivery in ‘auspicious time' and good positioning of birth stars, and demand caesarian,” Dr Gita Arjun said.
Teenagers also took the opportunity to clear their doubts. The effect of uterus removal on physical fitness was raised from one of them. “Uterus removal has nothing to do with physical fitness. Since hormones are produced by ovary there is no chance for hormonal imbalance too," Dr Saradha explained.
The session continued with many more live questions and answers, but the most enlivening part of the session was the latter part. The children, whose reason for being in the earth was the Women’s Centre, filled this part with variety cultural programmes.
Published in Expresso, The New Indian Express on August 6