Unlocking Fertility – POGS on Infertility Management, Advances, and the ART Act 2021
May 2025 has been a dynamic month for women’s health, with the Pune Obstetrics and Gynaecological Society (POGS) dedicating its focus to the rapidly progressing science of infertility management. The “Womb & Wellness” chronicle for May served as a comprehensive guide, offering in-depth insights into the latest advancements and protocols in fertility treatments. This month’s events and discussions underscore POGS’s commitment to empowering both healthcare professionals and couples navigating the often-challenging journey of conception. May Highlights: Learning, Support, and Medicolegal Preparedness POGS orchestrated a series of impactful events throughout May, fostering continuous learning and community support: • AMOGS CME with POGS (15th May): This academic event, held at Hotel Ramee Grand, brought together approximately 100 delegates to discuss crucial topics in maternal healthcare. Dr. Vinay Thorat presented an overview of “Yellow Alert: Liver Dysfunction in Pregnancy,” while Dr. Jagdish Hiremath shed light on “Anti-Coagulants & Pregnancy,” covering their indications, contraindications, and best practices for safe maternal and fetal outcomes. • Nurses Training Program (16th May): In association with AMOGS and Chandrapur Obgyn society, POGS organized an online webinar to celebrate International Nurses Day. The program, themed “Surakshit Matrutva Abhiyan” (Safe Motherhood Campaign), featured lectures on Antenatal Care, Labour, Postpartum period, and Lactation by experts like Dr. Shilpa Kshirsagar, Dr. Uma Wankhede, and Dr. Girija Wagh from Pune. It also included practical drills on neonatal resuscitation and PPH (Postpartum Haemorrhage), attended by around 100 nurses. • POGS Medicolegal Masterclass (18th May): Held at Dr. Nitu Mandke IMA Hall, this highly anticipated masterclass focused on “Better to prepare and prevent than repair and repent”. With over 150 registrations, it addressed pressing medicolegal concerns, including MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy) and POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences). Sessions covered the legalities of sterilization operations, hysterectomy audit, indemnity insurance, and the critical distinction between criminal and civil negligence. Experts also discussed handling medical emergencies, referrals, ethics, and the crucial examination of victims of sexual abuse. Advancing Infertility Treatment: Key Insights from May’s Chronicle The core of May’s “Womb & Wellness” issue delved into several critical areas of infertility treatment, offering valuable updates for practitioners: • Factors Influencing Ovarian Response in POSEIDON Women: The POSEIDON (Patient-Oriented Strategies Encompassing Individualized Oocyte Number) criteria are vital for classifying women with poor ovarian response (POR). The issue highlighted Follicular Output Rate (FORT) and Follicle-to-Oocyte Index (FOI) as key predictors of ovarian resistance to gonadotropin stimulation. Low FORT (approx. 30%) can indicate hypores-ponse, while high values (approx. 80%) signify adequate response, influencing the adjustment of ovarian stimulation protocols. FOI assesses the combined effectiveness of ovarian stimulation, oocyte maturation triggering, and retrieval procedures, helping identify unexpected hypo-responders. • The Impact of Pre-IVF Weight Loss in Obese Women: Obesity significantly affects reproductive health, contributing to anovulation, irregular cycles, and poor gamete/embryo quality. The chronicle emphasized that even a modest weight loss (5–10% of body weight) before IVF can improve ovulation, enhance gamete and embryo quality, increase IVF success rates, and reduce the risk of obstetric complications like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Medical and nutritional strategies, physical activity, and psychological support are crucial components of this pre-IVF preparation. • Individualized Gonadotropin Dosing in ICSI Cycles: The evolution of Individualized Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (ICOS) aims to tailor treatment to each woman’s unique characteristics, maximizing pregnancy chances while minimizing risks. The article stressed the importance of Antral Follicle Count (AFC) and Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) as reliable ovarian reserve markers to guide the starting dose of gonadotropins for hyper-, normo-, and poor responders. This individualization is crucial in the era of embryo vitrification to achieve higher cumulative pregnancy rates. • Newer Advances in Treating Thin Endometrium: A thin endometrium (defined as <7 mm or <8 mm) negatively impacts implantation rates in ART. The issue explored various treatment strategies, including hysteroscopy to correct structural issues (e.g., in dysmorphic uteri or Asherman’s syndrome). Pharmacological options like extended estrogen administration, Growth Hormone (GH), and tamoxifen were discussed. Regenerative medicine, using intrauterine infusions of growth factors like Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) and Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), as well as Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), are emerging as promising new therapies for endometrial regeneration and improved receptivity. • The ART Act 2021 – An Overview: This crucial legislation regulates Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) clinics and banks in India to ensure ethical practices and safeguard patient rights. The Act mandates registration of clinics, sets eligibility criteria for commissioning parties (single women or married couples with specific age limits) and donors, and prohibits sex-selective services. It also requires insurance coverage for oocyte donors and confers biological child rights to children born through ART. Challenges in its implementation, such as privacy concerns, lack of donor counseling, and finding suitable donors, were also highlighted. Staying Connected and Empowered with the POGS App To ensure all members remain at the forefront of these advancements, POGS continues to promote its brand-new POGS App. Launched on Android and iOS, this state-of-the-art mobile application centralises all POGS-related information, offering seamless new member and conference registration, monthly quizzes, and a digital library with newsletters, videos, and past lecture recordings. Conclusion May 2025 has powerfully demonstrated POGS’s dedication to infertility management and the advancement of women’s reproductive health. Through expert-led discussions, training programs, and comprehensive articles on novel treatments and regulatory frameworks, POGS continues to equip medical professionals with the tools and knowledge necessary to provide the highest standard of care. This commitment ensures that couples facing infertility receive the best possible support and access to cutting-edge solutions, ultimately fostering hope and enhancing the journey to parenthood.




