News Flash
CHATTOGRAM, Oct 18, 2025 (BSS) - Despite limitations, Chattogram has made significant progress in infertility treatment, as Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) has gradually become a reliable option for middle-class individuals seeking such care.
Due to the high cost of infertility treatments at private facilities, many poor and middle-class patients are opting for government-run hospitals. As a result, CMCH has a steady flow of patients in its gynecology department seeking infertility services.
According to CMCH data, 1,917 patients sought infertility treatment at the outpatient department from January to September this year. Among them, 900 underwent transvaginal sonography, 112 had saline infusion sonography (SIS), and 38 received artificial insemination (IUI). Notably, 51 of these patients have already been confirmed pregnant.
The fertility clinic now regularly offers hormone tests, ultrasonography, and primary infertility management services.
According to the World Health Organization, a couple is considered infertile if they are unable to conceive after a year of trying. While there is no precise data on the prevalence of infertility in Bangladesh, experts define it as the inability to conceive after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse.
Infertility can result from problems in the woman, the man, or both partners. Sources from the CMCH Gynecology Department said physical issues are found in 40 percent of wives and an equal number of husbands, while in 10 percent of cases, both partners have problems. Male infertility may be caused by low sperm production, poor sperm motility, abnormal sperm shape, difficulties in sexual intercourse, or failure of sperm to reach the female genital tract. In some cases, the exact cause remains unknown.
Female infertility can result from hormonal imbalances that disrupt ovulation, conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid hormone issues, structural abnormalities of the reproductive system, blocked fallopian tubes, or advanced age, which reduces egg quantity and affects fertility.
Despite higher patient's flow, the hospital cannot admit more due to the lack of a separate infertility department. Under this circumstance, concerned parties are calling for the establishment of a dedicated infertility department with an exclusive operation theater to improve services and quality.
Dr. Taslima Begum, a Gynecology and Infertility Specialist and Associate Professor at CMCH, said "We have a high volume of patients in our outpatient department. Currently, we have six FCPS trainees in our infertility unit. If we had a separate department, we could offer more services. With a modern lab and operation theater, we could perform important surgeries and tests on-site. Unfortunately, our hospital lacks an IVF unit, so patients have to travel to Dhaka or abroad for this service."
Brigadier General Mohammad Taslim Uddin, Director of CMCH, highlighted challenges in starting new departments, citing space shortages as a major issue. He noted that the lack of space affects the establishment of new departments and seating arrangements for doctors in existing ones.
However, he expressed optimism that the problem would be resolved, particularly with the relocation of several departments to the Cancer Building, which would alleviate space constraints soon.
