New Delhi, Feb 7 : Union Health Minister Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss today inaugurated the first state-of-the-art In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Research Centre at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here.

This facility will help couples who are not able to have a child on their own and need some assistance to be able to conceive.

Speaking on the occasion, Ramadoss said this centre has been created with a mission to not only provide cost effective services to the majority, but also to foster an environment that promotes research and training.

The problem of infertility affects nearly 6-8 percent of couples in the reproductive age group in the country.

Infertility is often thought as a female concern, but in fact in nearly 10-15 percent of cases it is because of male problems such as low sperm counts, Ramadoss said, adding that in up to 30 percent of couples no identifiable reasons can be accounted for infertility the so-called unexplained infertility.

ANI