Infertility is a global Reproductive Health issue that has socio-economic implications on both the individual and society. The prevalence rate of infertility has been reported as 3.5% to 16.7% in more developed nations and from 6.9% to 9.3% in less-developed ones. Worldwide, 8–10% of couples are suffering from infertility every year and 25% are in India. Primary or secondary Infertility may be caused by a number of factors in either male or female reproductive systems. Indian Council of Medical Research says that, the prevalence of male infertility is around 10-15%, among women, it is 13.4% in 1015-2019. WHO estimated prevalence of primary infertility among women is 11.8%. 40% of infertility cases were related to men, out of every 100 couples, 10-15 of them will be facing difficulties due to male infertility. Various studies have been evidenced the remarkable rise in the infertility rate. NFHS survey, 2019–21 assessed the prevalence of primary infertility at both national and state levels in India with 3.9% to 16.8%, higher in urban areas. In this backdrop, the study aimed to comprehend the infertility scenario in the world and in India. It explores the determinants, causes, challenges and its implications based on systematic standard survey data from a Sociological Perspective. The study on infertility is important for health-care providers and policymakers to design and implement policies related to prevention. Diagnosis and treatment. The impact of infertility on the woman’s life in India is also substantial. Due to socio-cultural factors, they suffer from social stigma of being infertile. It has an impact on their families and communities. Equitable access to fertility care is also a challenge for poor, un-educated and marginalized groups. Fertility care is not prioritized in national health coverage. The study suggests to improve the current reproductive health programmes.
| Published in | Social Sciences (Volume 15, Issue 6) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ss.20261506.13 |
| Page(s) | 327-334 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Reproductive Health, Primary and Secondary Infertility, Social Stigma, Sociological Perspective
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APA Style
Basavalingappa, C. K. (2026). A Sociological Analysis of Infertility and Its Implications: with Special Reference to India. Social Sciences, 15(6), 327-334. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20261506.13
ACS Style
Basavalingappa, C. K. A Sociological Analysis of Infertility and Its Implications: with Special Reference to India. Soc. Sci. 2026, 15(6), 327-334. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20261506.13
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Download@article{10.11648/j.ss.20261506.13,
author = {Chandrika Kathalagere Basavalingappa},
title = {A Sociological Analysis of Infertility and Its Implications: with Special Reference to India},
journal = {Social Sciences},
volume = {15},
number = {6},
pages = {327-334},
doi = {10.11648/j.ss.20261506.13},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20261506.13},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ss.20261506.13},
abstract = {Infertility is a global Reproductive Health issue that has socio-economic implications on both the individual and society. The prevalence rate of infertility has been reported as 3.5% to 16.7% in more developed nations and from 6.9% to 9.3% in less-developed ones. Worldwide, 8–10% of couples are suffering from infertility every year and 25% are in India. Primary or secondary Infertility may be caused by a number of factors in either male or female reproductive systems. Indian Council of Medical Research says that, the prevalence of male infertility is around 10-15%, among women, it is 13.4% in 1015-2019. WHO estimated prevalence of primary infertility among women is 11.8%. 40% of infertility cases were related to men, out of every 100 couples, 10-15 of them will be facing difficulties due to male infertility. Various studies have been evidenced the remarkable rise in the infertility rate. NFHS survey, 2019–21 assessed the prevalence of primary infertility at both national and state levels in India with 3.9% to 16.8%, higher in urban areas. In this backdrop, the study aimed to comprehend the infertility scenario in the world and in India. It explores the determinants, causes, challenges and its implications based on systematic standard survey data from a Sociological Perspective. The study on infertility is important for health-care providers and policymakers to design and implement policies related to prevention. Diagnosis and treatment. The impact of infertility on the woman’s life in India is also substantial. Due to socio-cultural factors, they suffer from social stigma of being infertile. It has an impact on their families and communities. Equitable access to fertility care is also a challenge for poor, un-educated and marginalized groups. Fertility care is not prioritized in national health coverage. The study suggests to improve the current reproductive health programmes.},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - A Sociological Analysis of Infertility and Its Implications: with Special Reference to India AU - Chandrika Kathalagere Basavalingappa Y1 - 2026/11/09 PY - 2026 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20261506.13 DO - 10.11648/j.ss.20261506.13 T2 - Social Sciences JF - Social Sciences JO - Social Sciences SP - 327 EP - 334 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2326-988X UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20261506.13 AB - Infertility is a global Reproductive Health issue that has socio-economic implications on both the individual and society. The prevalence rate of infertility has been reported as 3.5% to 16.7% in more developed nations and from 6.9% to 9.3% in less-developed ones. Worldwide, 8–10% of couples are suffering from infertility every year and 25% are in India. Primary or secondary Infertility may be caused by a number of factors in either male or female reproductive systems. Indian Council of Medical Research says that, the prevalence of male infertility is around 10-15%, among women, it is 13.4% in 1015-2019. WHO estimated prevalence of primary infertility among women is 11.8%. 40% of infertility cases were related to men, out of every 100 couples, 10-15 of them will be facing difficulties due to male infertility. Various studies have been evidenced the remarkable rise in the infertility rate. NFHS survey, 2019–21 assessed the prevalence of primary infertility at both national and state levels in India with 3.9% to 16.8%, higher in urban areas. In this backdrop, the study aimed to comprehend the infertility scenario in the world and in India. It explores the determinants, causes, challenges and its implications based on systematic standard survey data from a Sociological Perspective. The study on infertility is important for health-care providers and policymakers to design and implement policies related to prevention. Diagnosis and treatment. The impact of infertility on the woman’s life in India is also substantial. Due to socio-cultural factors, they suffer from social stigma of being infertile. It has an impact on their families and communities. Equitable access to fertility care is also a challenge for poor, un-educated and marginalized groups. Fertility care is not prioritized in national health coverage. The study suggests to improve the current reproductive health programmes. VL - 15 IS - 6 ER -
Department of Studies and Research in Sociology, Kitturu Rani Channamma University, Karnataka, India
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