Siddha hospital in Tiruchi sees rising interest in infertility treatment
The District Headquarters Siddha Hospital, functioning within the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH) complex in Tiruchi, has reported growing interest in its infertility treatment programme. The hospital, which operates under the AYUSH section of MGMGH, holds a special outpatient (OP) clinic twice a week for aspiring parents.
Traditional Siddha methods such as abdominal packs, external varma therapy, oil massage, and medicated oil infusions are administered after a detailed evaluation of each patient. Doctors also prescribe lifestyle changes, yoga exercises, and specially formulated medicines depending on the patient's condition.
K. Sangeetha, an infertility specialist at the hospital, said many patients approach the clinic after other conventional treatments have failed. Depending on physical condition, treatment can take between two and eight months to show results. “We get many women close to their menopausal age, in the late 30s and early 40s, who have been trying to conceive through other methods,” she said.
Over the past year, the clinic has seen approximately 100 patients. According to Dr. Sangeetha, 10 of them have confirmed pregnancy, with one delivery taking place in recent weeks. The clinic attends to both male and female infertility conditions, including low sperm motility, oligospermia, fibroid uterus, endometriosis, and myoma.
Apart from infertility, the Siddha hospital’s OP also treats musculoskeletal problems. M. Vatsala, District Siddha Medical Officer, said Siddha medicines combined with lifestyle changes can effectively address most pain-related issues. “We get patients with a lot of muscle degeneration that requires repeated care and medicine. Many traditional Siddha therapies have become outmoded over time. We use around 10 external Siddha treatments such as ‘otradam’, ‘varma’ and ‘puravalyam’ for our patients,” she said.
Dr. Vatsala leads a team of seven specialists in homeopathy, yoga, and ayurveda. The hospital has a 16-bed inpatient facility and separate wings for Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy treatments. Two inpatient rooms were inaugurated on the first floor in September 2025.
At least 200 patients are currently undergoing treatment at the Siddha OP for conditions such as arthritis, diabetes mellitus, bronchial asthma, and skin diseases.
Sources at the hospital said expansion of the premises has become necessary due to a steady rise in patient numbers. A hospital official noted that yoga sessions are currently held in the corridor due to the lack of dedicated space, and the new first-floor rooms are not accessible to those with mobility problems.
