Latest news with #UmeshJindal
Hindustan Times
24-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Dr Umesh Jindal, an IVF expert for 40 years, says couples now see IVF as a health choice: ‘Not a shameful last resort'
The year was 1996. Chandigarh's first IVF baby was born at a fertility centre. These were times when In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) was perceived with stigma and scepticism. Yet, Dr Umesh Jindal, who has dedicated over 40 years of pioneering work and research in the field of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), is committed to restoring hope, dignity, and possibility for couples struggling with fertility. The 71-year-old veteran says her medical journey was riddled with resistance, but she found strength in empowering women silenced by the burden of infertility. World IVF Day 2025: Dr Umesh Jindal sheds light on IVF's benefits, emotional challenges, and the journey toward parenthood(Dr Umesh Jindal) For World IVF Day 2025, Health Shots reached out to infertility specialist, obstetrician, and gynaecologist Dr Umesh Jindal to discuss a four-decade-long journey in the field of IVF, battling myths and misconceptions, spreading awareness, and the changing perception towards Assisted Reproductive Technology. Excerpts from the interview: Q. What led you to begin your journey in IVF and infertility care in the 80s? Dr Umesh Jindal: During my early years working at PGI Chandigarh, I witnessed countless women facing social stigma and emotional trauma due to infertility, especially in the 1980s when such issues were either ignored or ridiculed. That experience left a lasting impression on me, and being part of a World Health Organisation (WHO) project on infertility at the time gave me both the technical insight and the conviction to address this silent suffering. No doubt, the challenges were immense, as there were no trained embryologists, no local equipment suppliers, and even the concept of IVF was met with scepticism. Q. Would you describe your early journey in this field as an emotionally driven mission? Dr Umesh Jindal: During my early years of service, I saw firsthand how women facing infertility were often blamed, ostracised and cruelly labelled as 'banjh' or barren. It was heartbreaking to witness how society reduced their identity to a condition they had no control over, treating them as lesser beings within their own families. What made it even more painful was knowing that in many cases, it was later found that the cause lay with the male partner, yet women bore the entire blame. This social stigma was not just unfair but deeply damaging both emotionally and mentally. Q. As a fertility expert offering IVF treatment, what kind of societal or cultural resistance did you face? Dr Umesh Jindal: At the outset of my journey, what stood out most was not open resistance but a prevailing silence and unwillingness to confront the reality of infertility. Couples, especially women, were hesitant to acknowledge infertility openly, fearing social judgment and being seen as incomplete or incapable. Many believed in myths or relied on unscientific remedies rather than seeking medical help. There was also a cultural hesitation around discussing reproductive health, making it challenging to introduce new technologies like IVF. Women often faced pressure from families to conceive quickly, and if they could not, the blame rested squarely on their shoulders. Even when couples were informed, many still hesitated to visit a clinic out of fear that their community or family would find out, choosing instead to suffer quietly rather than risk being identified with infertility. Those who gathered the courage often visited under changed names or disguised their identities, arriving at odd hours or through secret routes. As a practitioner, I have also faced resistance and scepticism from peers and society alike. Questions were raised about the morality of IVF and whether such science should be pursued, but I remained committed to my belief that this was both ethical and necessary. Q. Looking back at 40 years in the field, what have been some of the most significant breakthroughs or turning points for you? Dr Umesh Jindal: Delivering North India's first IVF baby in 1996 marked a defining moment that demonstrated the power of persistent effort backed by science to turn possibility into reality. Likewise, introducing genetic screening techniques like PGT-HLA and PGT-SR brought new hope for families dealing with inherited conditions such as thalassemia. Similarly, advancing embryo freezing through vitrification made treatments more adaptable and outcomes more consistent. Expanding care by partnering with hospitals across smaller cities also helped take quality services closer to people without compromising standards. Building structured training programs and hosting seminars for embryologists has been equally crucial because growing the field with skilled and ethical professionals ensures continuity. These milestones together represent a single consistent goal, making fertility care not just a clinical pursuit but a deeply human commitment to restoring hope, dignity and possibility. Q. Can you share a life-changing success story that captures the emotional essence of IVF and its impact on a family? Dr Umesh Jindal: One case that profoundly captures the emotional essence of IVF was when a couple approached us in 2019 with a concrete and deeply moving hope. Their first child suffered from thalassemia major, and they wished not only for another baby but for a healthy sibling who could one day save their elder child through a bone marrow transplant. It was not a simple IVF journey. We had to repeat the entire process three times to carefully create a sufficient pool of 16 to 18 embryos, thereby increasing the chances of finding at least one embryo that was both HLA-matched and free from thalassemia. This involved countless injections, meticulous genetic screening through PGT-HLA, and months of resilience from both the couple and our team. Against immense odds, only one viable embryo matched both criteria. That single chance led to the birth of a healthy baby in April 2024. It was a moment that reaffirmed the true purpose of what we do.
Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
JEE Advanced 2025: District-level cricketer Saksham Jindal bags AIR 2, wants CSE at IIT-Bombay
Once an under-14 district-level cricketer, Saksham Jindal had dreams of making it big in cricket. However, the Covid-19 pandemic altered his path as he could not go out to practice because of the lockdown. It was during this time that Jindal developed an interest in mathematics and participated in the Olympiads. 'Since then, his confidence in the subject increased, which boosted him to pursue JEE Advanced,' said Umesh Jindal, his father. JEE Advanced Result 2025 Live Updates The 17-year-old scored 100 percentile in JEE Main 2025 Session 1 and secured 295 out of 300 marks. In the JEE Advanced results 2025, he scored 332 marks. His father credits this achievement to his son's unwavering dedication, clear sense of purpose, and strong mentorship. Saksham now plans to take admission at IIT Bombay to pursue BTech in Computer Science Engineering. JoSAA Counselling 2025 Explained Born into a family of doctors with mother Dr Anita Jindal, a physiotherapist, and father Umesh Jindal, a pathologist, and sister who is a NEET aspirant, Saksham went out of his family league to become an engineer. AIR 1 Rajit Gupta shares his JEE Advanced 2025 success mantra Hailing from Hisar, Haryana, they were first skeptical to send Saksham to Kota for preparation due to various alarming concerns; however, after speaking to peers, seniors and staying in Kota, they decided to allow Saksham to stay in the city. 'With a strong interest in mathematics, Saksham participated in various international and regional Olympiads like IMO and RMO, but after starting JEE preparation, he focused on fulfilling his dream to pursue BTech in computer science at IIT Bombay,' said his father. Sharing his preparation strategy, his father said, 'He tried his best to understand every chapter in depth and practice questions as many times as he could. This strengthened his confidence. For JEE Advanced, he relied on the NCERT syllabus and mock tests.' Unlike other students, he did not completely cut off from social media, but restricted its use.
