Mangayamma

BENGALURU: A 74-year-old woman in Andhra Pradesh delivering twins through IVF (in vitro fertilisation ) may have brought cheer to many, but the medical fraternity is not amused. Doctors across the country have taken objection to the IVF treatment offered to the senior citizen couple, which they think is ‘ethically’ incorrect.“We appeal to our members and healthcare professionals in India to abstain from unethical malpractice, which may risk the lives of our patients, offsprings and future generations,” said Dr Jaideep Malhotra, president, the Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction.A woman would have her ovarian reserve for 42 years at the most and reaches menopause by 52. “If a woman is made to carry an embryo at 74, she risks cardiac failure, renal failure and heavy bleeding. The chances of maternal mortality during delivery would be high,” said Dr Sangeetha S Anand, consultant reproductive medicine, Manipal Fertility, Manipal Hospitals.Dr Sangeetha considers the 74-year-old too lucky to have survived. “The hormones provided to her in the form of steroids to create thickness of the uterus wall will have its impact,” she said.Doctors also pointed out the lack of clarity in the rulebook to cap the upper-age limit for women going for IVF. Dr Kamini Rao, a well-known fertility expert, who chaired the assisted reproduction technologies (ART) bill regulation panel, set up by the Centre in 2015-16, said their draft guidelines said the upper-age limit for women undergoing IVF should be 52.“Had the guidelines framed by the ART committee been made into law, the case of the Andhra woman delivering twins at 74 would have been a crime and all those involved would have been behind bars,” asked Dr Rao.