Wombs Under Pressure: How Infertility Fuels Gender-Based Violence in Bangladesh

“Being childless can have severe impacts, including family violence, social stigma, emotional abuse, and financial difficulties,” says Dr Papreen Nahar, a global health expert at the University of Sussex. “Infertility is not included in public health policies, and there are few public services to support childless women.”

In Bangladesh, where motherhood is often seen as a woman’s most sacred duty, infertility is not just a health issue — it is a life-altering stigma. For many women, being childless means facing blame, emotional abuse, and even violence, all while navigating a healthcare system that offers little support and high costs.

A staggering 15% of Bangladeshi women face infertility — the highest rate in South Asia — yet public conversations around the issue remain minimal. The silence is not accidental; it’s born from a mix of cultural pressure, gender bias, and a deeply patriarchal mindset that places the burden of infertility solely on women.

Despite medical advancements like In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) remain out of reach for most. Treatments can cost between BDT 2-5 lakhs per cycle, and success rates remain uncertain. Dr Farhana Alam, a fertility specialist, notes, “IVF and IUI treatments are extremely expensive and unaffordable for most families. Many women don’t even know these options exist.”

In a male-dominated society, the narrative rarely includes male infertility — although studies show it contributes to nearly 50% of cases globally. Instead, women are routinely blamed, even when their male partners are medically at fault. “Families – and often wives – conceal male infertility to protect the man’s dignity,” says Dr Sabina Faiz Rashid of BRAC University. “As a result, women carry the emotional and social burden alone.”

The emotional toll is heavy. Many women suffer from anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Some are forced into traditional healing rituals, while others face pressure for their husbands to remarry — all for a child. This form of discrimination, researchers argue, amounts to gender-based violence (GBV).

A groundbreaking study titled “Infertility and Assisted Reproduction as Violent Experiences for Women in Bangladesh” by Dr Nahar and Dr Alam suggests that infertility stigma is a hidden form of GBV. “It’s time we treat infertility-related abuse as a violation of reproductive rights,” says Dr Nahar.

One emerging approach to tackle this taboo is the use of art. Participatory theatre, documentaries, and storytelling sessions are helping women share their stories and find solidarity. “Art can be a healing tool and a powerful form of resistance,” adds Dr Nahar.

But the real change needs to begin with society itself — redefining what it means to be a woman. “There’s a deeply rooted belief that a woman’s primary duty is to give birth. This thinking needs to change,” urges Dr Rashid. “Women are more than their ability to conceive.”

Infertility is not just a private struggle. It is a public health and social justice issue. The time has come to move from shame to support, from silence to action — and to ensure that every woman, childless or not, is treated with dignity.

Source: Asia News Network/The Daily Star 
Picture Credit: Kabiur Rahman Riyad/Unsplash