(L-R) Dr Mhasiseno T Belho, Dr Mujibur Rahman, Dr Emmanuel and Mohit Singla during a press conference held at Dr Belho’s Clinic and Children’s Hospital in Dimapur on April 18.
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Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 18
A new fertility service, including intrauterine insemination (IUI), has been launched in Dimapur through collaboration between Dr Belho’s Clinic and Children’s Hospital and Nova IVF, with doctors highlighting rising infertility rates and the need for accessible treatment in Nagaland.
Addressing a press conference at the hospital on April 18, Dr Mhasiseno T Belho, Proprietor and Senior Consultant Gynaecologist, said the initiative follows “many years” of effort to bring advanced but affordable fertility care to the region. She was joined by Dr Mujibur Rahman, Chief Consultant, Nova IVF Fertility, Guwahati, Mohit Singla, Nova IVF Guwahati Centre Head, and Dr Emmanuel.
Rahman said Nova IVF operates over 160 centres across India and has expanded into Southeast Asia, with over one lakh deliveries recorded so far. He said the Dimapur facility would initially offer IUI services, with plans to introduce in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) later.
Citing a regional analysis, Rahman said infertility affects “one in six couples” in Northeast India after a year of regular intercourse. He noted that around 50% of infertility cases are linked to male factors, reflecting a shift from earlier assumptions that largely blamed women.
He attributed rising infertility to lifestyle changes, substance use and delayed marriages. “As women delay pregnancy into their 40s, ovarian reserve declines, making natural conception more difficult,” he said.
The facility aims to reduce the need for patients to travel to cities like Guwahati, cutting logistical challenges, costs and language barriers. The IUI procedure—where processed sperm is placed into the uterus—will be carried out entirely in Dimapur using in-house equipment.
Doctors said IUI is generally recommended for women below 35 years with normal fallopian tubes and acceptable sperm parameters. Typically, two to three cycles are attempted before considering IVF, although fewer cycles may be advised for women above 35.
On affordability, Belho said an IUI cycle, usually costing around Rs 20,000, would be offered for under Rs 10,000 at the centre. IVF, which can cost between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh elsewhere, would start at about Rs 1.3 lakh per cycle under the collaboration.
Part of the IVF process, including ovarian stimulation, will be conducted in Dimapur, reducing the patient’s stay in Guwahati to about 7–10 days for procedures such as ovum retrieval and embryo transfer.
Addressing safety concerns, Rahman said there is no evidence of increased birth defects in children born through IUI or IVF, citing global data since the first IVF birth in 1978. He added that improved protocols have minimised risks such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, making the procedure “safe and largely painless”.
The team said they adhere to provisions of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Act, 2021–22, including a strict ban on gender selection.
Belho also said discussions are ongoing with the state government to include IUI and IVF under schemes such as Ayushman Bharat and the Chief Minister Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS), though no decision has been finalised. Rahman added that state government employees can currently claim reimbursement of 60–70% for certain procedures and medicines.
Singla said the Nova IVF network emphasises transparent pricing and largely follows “self-cycle” procedures. He claimed an average success rate of about 70 per cent across age groups, rising to around 90 per cent in younger patients, with laboratory fertilisation rates of 98–99%.
Doctors added that IVF is generally recommended for women below 50 years and may not be suitable in certain serious medical conditions, where alternatives such as surrogacy may be considered.
The facility will also offer free monthly consultations, with visiting specialists providing guidance to patients.
