The acquisition signifies a major expansion for Nova IVF Fertility in southern India, enhancing access to state-of-the-art reproductive services while leveraging Craft Fertility’s established expertise in the region

Nova IVF Fertility, backed by Asia Healthcare Holdings (AHH), has announced the strategic acquisition of Craft Fertility, marking its formal entry into Kerala. The partnership will see the launch of 10 new IVF centres across the state over the next three to five years, bringing advanced reproductive medicine to couples across urban, tier 2, and tier 3 cities.

“Craft Fertility is a treasure trove of clinical excellence,” said Vishal Bali, Executive Chairman, Asia Healthcare Holdings. “This is not just an entry for Nova into Kerala, it is access to four decades of transformative clinical practice in reproductive medicine.”

Founded in 2011, Nova IVF Fertility operates a pan-India network of IVF centres. AHH acquired the company in 2019. Today, the company performs more than 19,000-21,000 IVF treatments annually, supported by over 150 fertility specialists and over 200 embryologists.

Kerala-based CRAFT Fertility Centre, founded by Dr C. Mohamed Ashraf, announced a strategic partnership with Bengaluru-based Nova IVF Fertility, owned by Asia Healthcare Holdings.

Among the many factors that inhibit fertility in young couples, some, like metabolic health, are well known and others are more recent, said Dr C. Mohamed Ashraf, founder of CRAFT Fertility Centre. He was speaking at a news conference announcing a strategic partnership with Nova IVF Fertility, owned by Asia Healthcare Holdings.

“Among the newer causes are trends driven by education and career choices, where couples postpone pregnancies. While that is a choice, there are other factors that leave the partners with no choice,” Ashraf said. “Covid-19, for example, has added to fertility challenges and detailed studies are being undertaken abroad. The early results are disturbing.”

In the Romanian Journal of Morphology and Embryology, a paper published by Dr Maria Sidonia Săndulescu and others pointed at lesions caused by Covid-19.

The paper said: “After the virus enters the body, the first lesions are produced in the respiratory tract. Extrapulmonary lesions specific to COVID-19 include acute renal lesions/acute kidney damage, hepatocellular lesions, neurological diseases, myocardial dysfunction and arrhythmia, gastrointestinal diseases, but also genital impairment.”

In the Journal of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Cancer Research, Drs Sarah Lotfi and Abbas Ahmadi indicated that “active Covid-19 infection significantly reduces the ratio of testosterone to Luteinizing hormone”. Secreted by the pituitary gland, Luteinizing hormone drives “processes important for puberty, sexual function, reproduction, and sex drive”.

Ashraf said that newer technologies allow couples to check their reproductive health before they set out to build a family. The checks can flag both individual issues and genetic issues, and addressing these would help the couple avoid the trauma that stems from failed pregnancies, Ashraf said.

“There is also the cost factor,” he added. “For example, a baby with spinal muscular atrophy comes with a potential bill of Rs 18 crore for the Zolgensma injection, which is one of the world's most expensive drugs. But early screening and medical support could give the same couple a healthy baby at a cost of around Rs 5 lakh. Craft has had the honour of gifting nine babies to eight couples with the (SMN1) gene mutation.”

Speaking about the partnership between the institutions, Shobhit Agarwal, CEO of Nova IVF Fertility, said: “This is not another deal in the health care industry. We were drawn to Craft for its academic rigour and clinical credibility. Nova IVF has delivered one lakh successful pregnancies, and we bring with us the most advanced IVF protocols. The fertility market does not need expansion as much as it needs credibility. We are not here to be the biggest, but the most credible one.”

Dr Noushin Abdul Majiyd, director and senior consultant at CRAFT, said that the centre did not stop at supporting couples. “We are a board-certified centre providing a fellowship in reproductive medicine, and we have empowered over 500 doctors who are serving countrywide,” she said.

 

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients the body cannot produce, so they must come from food such as fish, walnuts, flaxseeds and soybeans. Regular intake supports hormonal balance, improves sperm quality and ovulation, enhances blood flow to reproductive organs, and may increase chances of conception and outcomes during fertility treatments.

The Indian population shows continuous growth of overweight and obesity conditions throughout its urban and semi-urban areas. Excess weight which used to be seen as an affluent problem now affects people from all age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds. The medical field established body weight as a primary factor for diabetes and heart disease yet it has developed into a major threat for reproductive health and for the future well-being of children.

The Impact on Women's Reproductive Health

According to Dr Anindita Singh, Fertility Specialist, Nova IVF Fertility, Kolkata, "Excess body fat influences hormonal balance. Adipose tissue exists as a metabolically active tissue which produces changes to estrogen and insulin levels that result in menstrual and ovulation disruption. Women who suffer from obesity have an increased likelihood of developing Polycystic ovary syndrome which manifests through irregular menstrual cycles and problems with conception."

Obesity results in decreased egg quality which leads to lower rates of success for assisted reproductive technologies while increasing the chances of miscarriage. Pregnant women who gain excessive weight experience a higher chance of developing gestational diabetes and hypertensive conditions and facing difficulties during childbirth. Maternal dangers to their health result in immediate effects which impact both fetal growth and delivery results.

Male Fertility Is Also at Risk

The discussion primarily focuses on women yet increasing weight problems show substantial effects on male reproductive health. Excess body fat decreases testosterone production and damages sperm quality and raises oxidative stress levels. Research indicates that obesity decreases sperm movement while it increases DNA damage which can impact both conception and embryo development.

Shared reproductive health exists as a mutual relationship between partners. The metabolic state of both partners directly impacts their chances of becoming parents.

Intergenerational Effects on Children

The increasing obesity problem creates a serious danger which affects future generations. The research shows that children whose mothers had obesity and uncontrolled blood sugar during pregnancy face higher chances of developing metabolic disorders in their adult years. This includes increased susceptibility to Type 2 diabetes and childhood obesity. Maternal nutrition and metabolic health during pregnancy can influence fetal programming a process where in-utero conditions shape long-term health patterns. Excessive gestational weight gain may lead to higher birth weight and early adiposity rebound and long-term cardiometabolic risks for children.

Breaking the Cycle Through Family-Based Solutions

Weight management needs to have a family-based solution because individual treatment methods fail to address the increasing weight problem. Reproductive health results can be improved through pre-pregnancy health guidance which includes proper diet and exercise and weight management techniques. Children need outdoor play times which should occur together with established daily activities and healthy eating practices that they should practice throughout the day.

Healthcare professionals now recognize metabolic health before pregnancy and throughout pregnancy as a critical aspect of women's health. Early medical treatment not only increases chances of successful conception but also protects children from developing persistent health issues that last throughout their lives.

A Broader Public Health Priority
Weight management is not solely about aesthetics; it is deeply connected to reproductive success and the health trajectory of future generations. Public awareness about nutrition and physical activity and metabolic health should progress at the same speed as India's urban and modern development.

Protecting reproductive health and children's wellbeing begins long before birth. By addressing rising weight concerns today, families can help secure healthier outcomes for tomorrow's generation.