The unseen battle of Bangladeshi women

Dhaka—In Bangladesh, where motherhood is deeply woven into a woman’s identity, infertility is more than just a medical condition—it is a deeply entrenched social stigma. For many women, being unable to conceive means being treated as incomplete, facing emotional abuse, being considered as cursed, and experiencing violence.

While scientific advancements have led to assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) such as in vitro fertilization and intrauterine insemination, these treatments remain largely inaccessible, expensive, and shrouded in misinformation.

The study “Infertility and Assisted Reproduction as Violent Experiences for Women in Bangladesh: Arts-based Intervention to Address GBV (Arts for I-ARTs)” by Dr. Papreen Nahar and Farhana Alam, shows that infertility leads to serious social and emotional consequences for women in Bangladesh.

“As a result, many turn to ARTs, but these procedures often expose them to further harm, including lack of informed consent, painful and intrusive treatments, and even life-threatening risks,” noted Nahar, an expert in global health and infection at the University of Sussex.

Research suggests that 15 percent of Bangladeshi women struggle with infertility, the highest rate in South Asia. The emotional toll is immense, with many women experiencing depression, anxiety, and social isolation. Women who seek medical help often find themselves blamed and judged rather than supported.

Family and communities also push them into traditional healing practices before seeking medical help, while their husbands are pressured into arranged second marriages that only worsen the women’s emotional trauma.

Infertility treatments in Bangladesh remain prohibitively expensive, and “many women remain unaware of their options, or lack the autonomy to seek help. A major barrier is also the shortage of trained specialists and regulations to ensure quality care,” said Alam, a fertility specialist and the medical director of Harvest Infertility.

The high cost of ARTs exacerbates the inequalities faced by infertile women. Many families exhaust their life savings in pursuit of pregnancy only to be met with failed treatments, financial ruin, and social humiliation.

Infertility is often framed as a women’s issue in most cases, despite medical evidence showing that male infertility contributes to at least 50 percent of infertility cases worldwide. Due to deeply entrenched patriarchal beliefs, male infertility is rarely acknowledged, let alone discussed openly. Women bear the brunt of the blame, while their husbands and male family members escape scrutiny.

Even when male infertility is confirmed, women are pressured to remain silent to “protect the man’s dignity” and uphold family honor.

This lack of accountability reinforces misconceptions about infertility and further isolates affected women. Men are rarely asked to undergo medical tests, while their wives are subjected to numerous diagnostic procedures and treatments without questioning the possibility that their husbands could be infertile.

Nahar and Alam’s study highlights a critical gap in knowledge about male reproductive health in Bangladesh. Frequently, male infertility is not diagnosed early because men and their families often refuse to accept the possibility that infertility could be due to low sperm count, poor sperm motility, or other male reproductive issues.

The study argues that infertility-related discrimination should be recognized as a form of gender-based violence (GBV). The justice framework of reproductive health argues that women must have the right to access affordable fertility treatment, mental health care, and protection from stigma and violence.

One promising intervention is the use of art to address infertility-related GBV. Nahar highlights that art can help women heal, advocate for their rights, and challenge societal norms. “Art-based interventions can be especially powerful in addressing gender-based violence related to infertility.” Participatory art programs can provide safe spaces for women to express their pain, reclaim their voices, and inspire collective action against the stigma of being infertile.

The expectation of motherhood is deeply ingrained in most societies and shape a woman’s identity once she is married. “There is a deeply rooted belief that a woman’s primary duty is to give birth. This thinking needs to change. Women are more than their ability to conceive. Society must recognize and celebrate their achievements, intelligence, and contributions beyond motherhood,” said Dr. Sabina Faiz Rashid, director of the center of excellence for gender, sexual, and reproductive health and rights at BRAC University.

It is high time for us to rewrite the narrative on infertility, and move from shame to support, from exclusion to inclusion, and from silence to empowerment. The Daily Star/Asia News Network

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The Philippine Daily Inquirer is a member of the Asia News Network, an alliance of 22 media titles in the region.