The Hidden Plight of Infertility in Rural India

The Hidden Plight of Infertility in Rural India is the culmination of research grounded in over two hundred in-depth interviews with couples who were experiencing infertility. In a society where a women's identity is often still intrinsically linked to motherhood, the goal of these interviews was to uncover couple's views regarding the multidimensional topic of infertility. Specifically, discussions focused on both the male and female views on parenthood, perceived stigmas against women regarding their "inability to conceive", and the lengths that couples would go to in order to conceive through the use of both reproductive technologies as well as non-biomedical approaches. Ultimately, through the bravery of these couples and their willingness to share their stories, a unique view into the complexity of infertility in rural India emerged and motivated the development of future interventions to better support and empower this often marginalized population.

Janaka Lagoo is a physician involved in global health and capacity building in resource-poor settings (both domestically and abroad). She received a B.A. from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a M.D. from Duke University. She has worked with Teach for America and the WHO. She is currently a general surgery resident at Indiana University.