New IUI laboratory inaugurated at KGH

Visakhapatnam: In a bid to improve fertility rates in the region, a new intrauterine insemination (IUI) laboratory was inaugurated at King George Hospital/Andhra Medical College in Visakhapatnam.

Officials said the IUI facility will provide free infertility treatment services to poor and middle-class couples facing difficulties in conceiving.According to officials, infertility affects one in six people globally, while around 27.5 million people in India are estimated to be dealing with the issue. In Visakhapatnam, about 15-18 percent of couples are affected by infertility.The IUI procedure involves collecting healthy sperm from the male partner, processing it through a specialised method and placing it in the woman’s uterus during ovulation to improve the chances of pregnancy.

Officials said the procedure is safe and an important treatment option for infertility.The Andhra Medical College Old Students Association (AMCOSA) donated the equipment and infrastructure needed to set up the laboratory as part of its social responsibility initiatives.Officials said all necessary approvals for operating the laboratory were obtained from the district medical and health department and were cleared by the district-level PCPNDT committee with the approval of the district collector.District collector Abhishikt Kishore, Visakhapatnam South MLA Vamsi Krishna Srinivas, and officials from KGH and AMC attended the inauguration.