Dhaka — In Bangladesh, motherhood is seen as a core part of a woman’s identity. For many women, infertility is not just a health problem. It carries a heavy social stigma. Women who cannot conceive often face harsh judgment, emotional abuse, and even violence. They are sometimes seen as cursed or incomplete.
While medical advances like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) exist, these treatments remain costly, hard to access, and surrounded by misinformation. Many women do not know about their options or cannot afford care.
A study titled “Infertility and Assisted Reproduction as Violent Experiences for Women in Bangladesh” by Dr. Papreen Nahar and Farhana Alam shows how infertility deeply affects women socially and emotionally.
Dr. Nahar, a global health expert, explains that many women who try assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) face further harm. They often undergo painful treatments without proper information. Sometimes, these procedures carry serious health risks.
Research indicates that 15 percent of women in Bangladesh struggle with infertility, the highest rate in South Asia. Many suffer from depression, anxiety, and isolation. Instead of support, women seeking medical help often face blame and judgment.
Families and communities usually push women towards traditional healers before seeking medical treatment. Husbands may be encouraged to take second wives, adding to women’s emotional pain.
Dr. Farhana Alam, a fertility specialist, points out that the high cost and lack of trained specialists make infertility treatment difficult to get. Many women also lack the freedom to seek help.
Financial strain worsens the problem. Families spend their savings on treatment but often fail. This leads to poverty and social shame.
Infertility is usually seen as a woman’s problem, even though medical evidence shows men contribute to at least half of infertility cases worldwide. Patriarchal beliefs hide male infertility. Men are rarely tested, and women are blamed.
Even when male infertility is confirmed, women are expected to keep it secret to protect men’s dignity and family honor.
This silence allows myths and discrimination to continue. Women undergo many tests and treatments while their husbands avoid medical checkups.
Nahar and Alam’s study calls for more awareness about male reproductive health in Bangladesh. Many men and their families refuse to accept male infertility as a cause.
The study urges recognizing infertility discrimination as a form of gender-based violence (GBV). Women should have the right to affordable fertility care, mental health support, and protection from stigma and violence.
One hopeful approach is using art to address the stigma and violence linked to infertility. Dr. Nahar says art helps women express their pain and fight for their rights. Art programs create safe spaces where women can speak out and find strength together.
Motherhood is deeply expected in many societies, shaping how women see themselves after marriage. Dr. Sabina Faiz Rashid of BRAC University says, “A woman’s worth is more than her ability to bear children. Society must value her intelligence, achievements, and contributions beyond motherhood.”
It is time to change the story around infertility. We must move from shame to support, silence to empowerment, and exclusion to inclusion.
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