Struggling to Conceive? Infertility Guide for Pakistani Couples

You Are Not Alone

Infertility affects roughly 15-20% of couples trying to conceive. In Pakistan, social stigma makes it feel more isolating than it is. It is a medical condition — not a curse, not a punishment, not a reflection of your worth as a person or spouse.

Treatment Options Available in Pakistan

Medication (first-line treatment)

• Clomiphene (Clomid): Stimulates ovulation — affordable, widely available
• Letrozole: Often better than Clomid for PCOS — available in Pakistan
• Metformin: For PCOS with insulin resistance
• Progesterone support: For luteal phase issues

IUI — Intrauterine Insemination

Sperm is placed directly into the uterus during ovulation. Available at major fertility clinics. Cost: Rs 30,000–80,000 per cycle.

IVF — In Vitro Fertilisation

Eggs retrieved, fertilised in lab, embryo transferred. Available in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad. Cost: Rs 400,000–800,000 per cycle. Success rates: 30-50% per cycle depending on age.

Surgical treatments

• Laparoscopy for endometriosis
• Varicocele repair for men
• Tubal surgery for blocked tubes

The Islamic Perspective on Fertility Treatment

• IUI and IVF using husband's sperm and wife's eggs are generally considered permissible by major Islamic scholars
• Donor sperm or eggs are more complex — scholars have differing views
• Surrogacy is generally not permitted under Islamic law
• Consult your imam or a reputable Islamic scholar if you have specific questions

When to Consider Adoption

Islamic adoption (kafala) allows caring for a child without the child taking the adoptive family's name. Many Pakistani couples build beautiful families this way. It is not a lesser option — it is a profound act of care.

• Edhi Foundation facilitates kafala arrangements
• SOS Children's Villages Pakistan: 021-35312555

Protecting Your Marriage Through the Process

Infertility is one of the most significant stressors a marriage faces. To protect the relationship:

• Treat it as something happening TO both of you — not something one person is causing
• Protect your emotional intimacy — don't let sex become purely functional
• Set limits on how much you discuss it — give yourselves "infertility-free" conversations
• Seek couples counselling if the strain is becoming relationship-threatening