IVF has transformed the way many couples address infertility. In India, acceptance and use of IVF has increased significantly, thanks to the impact created by celebrities who have openly discussed their experiences. Highlighting these individuals helps to break down the stigma associated with infertility and IVF, giving hope and motivation to millions who suffer similar challenges. This blog delves into the IVF journeys of several well-known Indian celebrities, as well as the broader implications of their stories for societal acceptance.
Some Indian Celebrities Who Opted for IVF and Surrogacy
1. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas
This power couple enjoyed a lavish wedding in 2018. Just like their wedding, their newborn baby girl made headlines. More so because their daughter was born 12-weeks preterm via IVF surrogacy on January 15, 2022. The couple did not share the reasons for their decision to pursue parenting through surrogacy, and we respect their privacy. They called their gorgeous daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas.
Treatment: IVF + Surrogacy.
2. Preity Zinta and Gene Goodenough
Preity Zinta, known for her spontaneous nature, cheerful personality, and successful career as a Bollywood star and co-owner of the IPL Punjab cricket team, married Gene Goodenough in 2016. After years of fertility treatments and still being unable to conceive, the couple decided to pursue IVF surrogacy. They were blessed with twins, a boy and a girl, and called them Jai Zinta and Gia Zinta Goodenough.
Treatment: IVF + Surrogacy.
3. Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra
After winning the London-based, famous TV reality show Big Brother, this Bollywood beauty and yoga devotee married Raj Kundra in 2009. Shilpa Shetty gave birth to her first kid, Viaan Raj Kundra, in 2012. However, the pair acknowledged having infertility troubles because Shilpa had an autoimmune illness called APLA. They tried to conceive for 5 years and had a few miscarriages before deciding on IVF surrogacy. Their adorable baby, Samisha, was born in 2020 following three failed surrogacy efforts.
Treatment: IVF + Surrogacy.
Also Check: Success Rate and Cost of IVF Treatment in India
4. Sunny Leone and Daniel Weber
Sunny Leone, known for her bold choices, chose IVF surrogacy not because she had infertility concerns, but because she wanted to continue working and progressing in her career. She adopted Nisha in 2017, and her two sons, Asher and Noah, were born through surrogacy in 2018. Sunny believes that working and providing for her children makes her a better mother than staying at home. And that’s perfectly normal. Trolls may enjoy trolling, but we admire her candor.
5. Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh
Deepika and Ranveer are widely regarded as Bollywood’s power couple, winning millions of hearts with their extraordinary on-screen and off-screen chemistry. Deepika’s issue with endometriosis made their parenthood journey difficult after they married in 2018. After several unsuccessful attempts to conceive naturally, they went for IVF. Deepika had several IVF failures before finally welcoming their darling baby daughter.
Treatment: IVF
6. Amir Khan & Kiran Rao
Amir has two children from his first marriage. He and his second wife, Kiran Rao, underwent IVF surrogacy after a miscarriage and were blessed with a son in 2011. The pair has very open and supportive views about IVF. As Amir stated, “This kid is very precious to us because he was born after a long wait and some struggle. We were advised to have our child through IVF surrogacy, and we are grateful to the Almighty that everything has gone smoothly.”
Treatment: IVF + Surrogacy.
Also Check: Bursting 7 Myths about trying to conceive
7. Farah Khan and Shirish Kunder
When it comes to IVF superstars in India, director choreographer Farah Khan is the first person that springs to mind. In 2008, the family welcomed triplets born through IVF. This is the first Bollywood couple to open up to the media about adopting the IVF process to become parents. When asked about her choices, she stated, “When the choice is to be childless or to undergo IVF, there is no room for doubt. I was 43 when I had my children, and my biological clock had stopped ticking a long time before.”
Treatment: IVF + Surrogacy.
8. Shahrukh Khan and Gauri Khan
Shahrukh and Gauri chose IVF surrogacy for their third child after having their two children several years apart. There was a lot of speculation, and for a long period this was kept quiet. Finally, Shahrukh affirmed that, “Despite all of the noise that has been going around, the sweetest is the one made by our newborn baby, Abram.”
Treatment: IVF + Surrogacy.
Why do Celebrities Choose IVF and Surrogacy?
Celebrities frequently choose IVF and surrogacy for a variety of reasons, including medical challenges such as age-related fertility issues, previous miscarriages, demanding career schedules that may interfere with pregnancy, and a desire to start a family. The other main factors include:
- Health Concerns: Some celebrities may have medical issues that make pregnancy dangerous, such as endometriosis, prior surgeries, or advanced maternal age.
- Career Demands: Busy work schedules might make it difficult to bring a pregnancy to term, but surrogacy offers a way to continue working while also becoming parents.
- Fertility Issues: Difficulty conceiving naturally due to age or other circumstances could require IVF treatment.
- Same-Sex Couples: For many LGBTQ+ couples, surrogacy is the only way to have a biological child.
- Single Parenthood: Some celebrities may choose IVF or surrogacy to become single parents.
- Social Pressure: Public figures may experience societal pressure to have children, which drives them to look into assisted reproductive technologies.
Medical and Legal Aspects of IVF and Surrogacy in India
In India, IVF and surrogacy are regulated under the “Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021,” which strictly prohibits commercial surrogacy and only allows altruistic surrogacy for married Indian couples with proven infertility. The surrogate mother is only eligible for reimbursement for medical expenses. All clinics and practitioners are required to be registered and follow strict guidelines with regard to informed consent, medical eligibility, and ethical practices to ensure the well-being of both the surrogate mother and the child.
Legal Requirements and Consequences:
- Strict Documentation: The intended parents and surrogate mother must provide documentation detailing their medical conditions, marital status, and informed consent.
- Penalties for Violations: Any clinic or individual involved in commercial surrogacy may face legal penalties such as fines and imprisonment.
- Parental Rights: The intended parents are legally acknowledged as the parents of the child delivered via surrogacy.
Important information about IVF regulations in India:
While there is no dedicated IVF law, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) establishes criteria for IVF clinics, which include informed consent, required counseling, and data collecting via a national ART registry to check quality and compliance.
Breaking the Taboo
Fertility doctors have noticed a significant surge in IVF inquiries and acceptance following celebrity stories that have been widely reported. The resulting changes include:
- Celebrities’ openness, encouraging many couples to seek infertility treatment.
- Increased demand which brought improvements in IVF technology in India.
- Improved success rates, as more people utilized these technologies
- Awareness and acceptance which have helped to improve treatment outcomes.
- More financing and research on IVF has resulted in more investment and development into fertility treatments, leading to innovative solutions and better care.
- The publicity surrounding famous IVF stories has resulted in better support networks for individuals and couples undergoing reproductive treatments, giving emotional and psychological support.
