Lakshmi and Magan’s Story: Overcoming Infertility Blame | Malpani Clinic

“Everyone Told Him to Leave Me”: Lakshmi and Magan’s True Story

When a couple does not have a child, the questions start early. When years pass, those questions turn into blame.

For Lakshmi, the blame was constant.

She and Magan had been married for seven years in a small village in Orissa. In their world, infertility was not seen as a shared medical problem. It was seen as a woman’s failure.

Neighbours whispered. Relatives commented openly. And inside her own home, Lakshmi was told she was replaceable.

Living Under Constant Pressure

Lakshmi was blamed for not giving the family a child. Her mother-in-law repeatedly told Magan to leave her and marry again. Magan did not want to. But the pressure never stopped.

Lakshmi tried everything she was told to try:

• Local doctors.
• Traditional remedies.
• Astrologers.
• Healers.

Nothing worked. Over time, the emotional pressure became physical. Lakshmi showed signs of abuse. She spoke quietly, with long pauses, as if saying too much might bring punishment later.

At her lowest point, she tried to end her life. Not because she wanted to die, but because she could not see a future where she was allowed to live with dignity.

Reaching Mumbai With Nothing Left to Lose

In November 1994, Lakshmi and Magan travelled to Mumbai after reading a newspaper article about Malpani Infertility Clinic . They had never been to a city like this before.

They were overwhelmed. Nervous. Unsure if they even belonged in a place like this. Lakshmi kept her head covered. Magan spoke little. But they had come with one thing they had not lost yet:

Hope.

Asking the Right Questions

Instead of starting treatment immediately, the doctors began by asking questions. What tests had already been done? Who had been treated so far? What had actually been checked?

Very quickly, something became clear. Lakshmi had been investigated repeatedly. Magan had not.

When Magan’s tests were done, the results showed the real problem. His sperm count was very low, and the sperm were not moving well. This made natural pregnancy very unlikely.

This was difficult news. But it was also relieving. For the first time, Lakshmi heard something she had never heard before:

“This is not your fault.”

A Simple Treatment Plan

The next step was explained carefully. The treatment suggested was intrauterine insemination (IUI) .

In this procedure, sperm are collected, cleaned, and placed directly inside the uterus around the time of ovulation. This improves the chances of fertilisation when sperm numbers or movement are low.

The success rate per cycle was explained honestly—about ten to fifteen percent. No promises were made.

Lakshmi and Magan also shared their financial difficulties. This was taken into account. Fees were reduced. They were allowed to stay at the clinic so they would not have to spend on accommodation. They were treated with respect, not charity.

One Chance, Carefully Timed

By coincidence, Lakshmi was already in the middle of her cycle when they arrived. An ultrasound showed that an egg was developing well.

The timing was explained. The procedure was done calmly. Lakshmi was reassured throughout. They were told to return home and do a pregnancy test after two weeks.

And then, silence.

When Patients Do Not Come Back

Weeks passed. Then months. There was no call. No letter.

Given the low success rates of IUI, it was assumed that the treatment had not worked. The doctors worried about Lakshmi—about whether she was safe, and about whether she had returned to the same environment that had almost broken her.

Life moved on.

Two Years Later

In November 1996, a woman walked into the clinic carrying a toddler. She was confident. Smiling. At ease. It took a moment to recognise her.

It was Lakshmi. She introduced her son, Amartya .

She had conceived from that single IUI cycle. Her life had changed in ways she could never have imagined. The same family that once blamed her now celebrated her. Her mother-in-law proudly showed off her grandson. Magan stood beside her, supportive and steady.

Lakshmi had even started a small beauty parlour. For the first time, she had her own income. Her own space. She had come back to say thank you and to return the money that had been reduced earlier.

Before leaving, she showed a folded newspaper clipping—the article that had led her to the clinic in the first place. She had saved it all these years.

What Lakshmi’s Story Really Shows

This is not just a story about IUI working.

• It is a story about how misinformation and bias harm women.
• About how men are often not tested soon enough.
• About how one correct diagnosis can change everything.

Most of all, it shows what ethical fertility care looks like: Ask the right questions, test both partners, explain options honestly, and support patients without exploiting their fear.

A Note to the Reader

If you are facing infertility and carrying blame that may not belong to you, pause.

• Ask for clarity.
• Ask for proper testing.
• Ask to be treated as a person, not a problem.

A consultation with a fertility specialist like Dr. Malpani can help you understand what is really happening, and what your options truly are.

Lakshmi did not find dignity because she became a mother. She found it because someone finally listened. And sometimes, that is where change begins.