Publication:

Impact of culture and religion on assisted reproductive technologies in India: a comprehensive review

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have emerged as important medical interventions for infertility; however, their acceptance and utilization are strongly influenced by cultural and religious beliefs, particularly in a diverse country like India. This review explores the impact of cultural diversity and religious perspectives on the perception and practice of ART in the Indian context. Indian society places significant importance on marriage, parenthood, lineage continuation, and family honour, which contributes to the social stigma associated with infertility, especially for women. Regional cultural variations across North, South, East, West, and North-East India further shape attitudes toward infertility treatment, access to fertility services, and acceptance of procedures such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), gamete donation, and surrogacy. Religious beliefs also play a major role in reproductive decision-making. Hinduism generally demonstrates a permissive approach toward ART, whereas Islam restricts third-party reproduction to preserve lineage. Christian perspectives vary across denominations, with Roman Catholic teachings opposing most ART procedures, while protestant groups may permit selected interventions. Buddhism and Sikhism are comparatively flexible, whereas Jainism adopts a cautious ethical stance emphasizing non-violence. The review additionally discusses the ethical and socio-legal implications of surrogacy and highlights the influence of recent Indian legislation, including the surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 and the Assisted reproductive technology (Regulation) Act, 2021. Understanding these cultural and religious dimensions is essential for promoting culturally competent fertility counselling, ethical reproductive healthcare, and equitable access to ART services in India.