ABSTRACT

Infertility is a growing health problem in India. The population affected by the experience of infertility has increased dramatically in recent decades and is expected to increase. It is considered as a tragedy in most Indian setting. This is due to premium placed on fertility as a result of roles that children fulfill in the family and the society. Infertility rate in Kashmir is 15% which is an alarming level. Despite this growing need, the contemporary understanding of infertility is too narrow. Modern day infertility needs to be interpreted within a broader historical and bio psychosocial perspective. Etiological factors of infertility are mostly related to organ pathology, endocrine disorders, low ovarian reserve (due to late marriage) and they are mainly associated with poor treatment outcome to conventional non assisted conception technique, unawareness of the problem and relevant issues and the treatment protocols that may influence the effectiveness of these methods. There is a widespread misconception and unawareness regarding the ART, particularly among women in Kashmir. In this context, the present paper aims to evaluate the level of awareness and perception of Assisted conception treatment among women with Infertility in Kashmir.