Television personality and former Bigg Boss contestant Sambhavna Seth has laid bare the most painful chapter of her fertility journey, an IVF pregnancy that ended in miscarriage last December. Speaking on a podcast with fellow actor Gauahar Khan, Seth recalled weeks of heavy bleeding, repeated assurances that “everything was fine,” and the shattering scan that revealed her baby’s heartbeat had stopped 15 days earlier.
"I was carrying it inside me for 15 days, and I didn't even know," she said, describing the fetus as 'poison' inside her body.
Seth’s account is searingly human. She remembers waking in the night to “a bucket-full of blood,” screaming to her husband Avinash that the pregnancy was over. Yet the very next morning, a scan again showed “all was okay,” she says. Only later did a routine check confirm the loss—too late, in Seth’s view, for any intervention.
Seth alleged that her repeated complaints about pain and discomfort were initially brushed off by the doctor as arthritis.
"They kept saying it's normal in pregnancy, and I believed them," she added, recounting how signs were overlooked despite her insistence that something felt wrong.
Her grief quickly morphed into anger when, she claims, the treating obstetrician offered little empathy and dismissed earlier warning signs as arthritis pain. “Not even a ‘sorry,’” Seth told listeners, describing the moment she felt her trust collapse.
Doctors agree that first-trimester bleeding is common in IVF pregnancies, but they also stress the need for vigilant monitoring. “Frequent scans and prompt investigations are crucial, because hormone support can mask early symptoms,” notes Dr. Meera Menon, a Mumbai-based reproductive endocrinologist (comment obtained independently). Seth’s story underscores how easily patients can misread or be misadvised about red-flag symptoms.
Medical experts have noted that IVF pregnancies may require stricter monitoring than natural ones due to the artificially sustained hormonal environment, which can sometimes delay symptom recognition.
India’s medical-negligence laws require proof of a breach in the standard of care, a high bar in obstetrics where outcomes can hinge on biologic variables. Seth has not announced legal action, but her public indictment of her doctor has reignited debate about informed consent, timely referrals, and the emotional intelligence physicians owe their patients.
In an interview with TOI, Seth made it clear: “The doctor who was supposed to take care of me made a mistake. It was their negligence.”
She also stated she had gone through the IVF process four times, amplifying the emotional and physical toll it took on her.
Within hours of the interview going live, social media feeds filled with condolence messages and similar stories from IVF parents. Many hailed Seth’s candor for destigmatizing pregnancy loss, while others urged stricter oversight of fertility clinics. The episode also sparked calls for mandatory counseling training in obstetrics programs.
Her fans and fellow celebrities applauded her strength for sharing such an intimate trauma, urging more women to speak up about medical experiences without shame.
Experts say systemic fixes—standardized bleeding protocols, 24/7 helplines, and routine mental-health check-ins—could prevent clinical oversights and soften the emotional blow when tragedies do occur. Seth, meanwhile, says she will “try again,” but only after finding a team she can fully trust.
Medical professionals and women's health advocates are now demanding clearer IVF protocols, stronger patient follow-ups, and stricter training around early warning signs of complications.
Miscarriage after IVF is a medical event, but for patients it is first and foremost a human catastrophe. Will Sambhavna Seth’s story become the catalyst for a more accountable and compassionate fertility care system—or will it fade like so many cautionary tales before it?
(Rh/Dr. Divina Johncy Rosario/MSM/SE)