Failure to achieve conception by a couple, having normal coitus, during appropriate period of menstrual cycle, regularly, at least for one year where the women is <35 years and 6 months in women >35 years is termed as Infertility. This health problem is present since ancient period and is increasing with the changing lifestyle. Stress and working pattern with multiple other factors affects the health and lead to abnormalities in the factors which are essential for the conception.

Types of infertility

• Primary infertility: It denotes those patients who have never conceived.
• Secondary infertility: It indicates previous pregnancy but failure to conceive subsequently within one or more years of unprotected regular intercourse.

Importance of a women lies in her procreative capability. The reason for being worshipped and considered next to God. When this procreative capacity is delayed or hampered it is termed as vandhyatwa in Ayurveda. Vandhyatwa as such is not a disease per se, but a manifestation or revelation of an underlying disease or disorder. Moreover the definition of vandhyatwa is not restricted to inability to conceive but not begetting a live progeny.

According to Ayurveda four factors are responsible for conception; Ritu (Appropriate time for conception), Ambu (Nutritional diet which is essential for conception), Kshetra (healthy uterus & Vagina),Beeja (Healthy sperm and Ovum).

The normal functioning of all above mentioned factors is vital for fertilization, implantation, growth, nourishment and delivery of a live foetus.

Investigations:

• Body mass index (BMI)
• Basal hormone evaluation
• Ultrasonography
• Hormone assay
• Endometrial biopsy/curettage
• Tubal patency test

Natural boosters of fertility are multigrain diet, protein, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, water, exercise. Ayurveda addresses each body type and boosts the body systems involved in fertilisation, making it a great choice for fertilisation. Ayurveda builds Ojas, improves health, stimulates the hypothalamus and pituitary glands, and indirectly causes the ovaries to mature and release eggs by addressing internal balances and external stimuli. Ayurveda offers a non-invasive, low-cost, and non-iatrogenic alternative therapy for female infertility.

 Importance of Panchakarma: 1) The couple who wants best progeny should undergo the process of panchakarma, after panchakarma male should take ksheera ghrita and female should take tila taila and Urada. 2) Virechana for ovulation: Patient with PCOS, generally we use virechana for snehana we use many Ghrita like Brahmi ghrita, Phalaghrita, Shatavarighrita, etc. 3) Nasya karma as prescribed in Punsanvanvidhi helps in conception and stability of pregnancy. Nasya with Anutaila may help to regulate H-P-O axis. 4) Aasthapanabasti and AnuvasanaBasti followed by Uttar Basti useful to correct ovulatory factor, tubal factor, uterine factor and cervical factor. Uttar basti with brahmighrita, phalaghrita shatavarighrita helps in Kshetra Nirmana, Uttar basti with kshara ghrita, panchagavyaghrita, and dhanvantari taila helps to patent the tubes. 5) Shirodhara used to regulate H-P-O axis. Shirodhara with taila, dashmulakwatha, milk, takra as per prakriti and dosh dushti in patient.