Dr. Tayebeh Amirimoghadam on Reproductive Health, IVF, and Women's Healthcare Challenges in Iran

Dr. Tayebeh Amirimoghadam: I am Dr. Tayebeh Amirimoghadam, and I have been working as a gynecologist in Iran for 12 years. I graduated as a gynecologist from Kerman Medical University, and I am working at Faraghir Salamat Hospital, which is a private hospital in Kerman Province, Iran. In addition, I have my own clinic, where I regularly see many patients.

Dr. Tayebeh Amirimoghadam: While I was in medical university and practicing as a general practitioner after graduation, I found myself passionate about women’s health and also interested in different subjects in the field of gynecology, such as reproductive health, prenatal care, and a wide variety of procedures within the field. I believe it gives me an opportunity to support women in my country during their significant life events. My journey in gynecology consists of training in medical school, residency, and sometimes further training courses after graduation. For example, I participated in several different courses, such as minimally invasive procedures, hysteroscopy, and new methods of infertility treatment in women.

Dr. Tayebeh Amirimoghadam: There are several complaints I come across in my daily practice. Some of them are related to menstrual disorders such as menorrhagia, absence of periods, dysmenorrhea, and pelvic pain during menstruation. Another common concern is pregnancy and supporting pregnant women during that time—for example, monitoring the baby’s growth, deciding the best delivery method, and managing postpartum care, including different contraception options. Other issues involve menopause and pre-menopause, where I monitor women’s health during those phases. I also provide consultations for sexually transmitted diseases, vaginal infections and their treatment, as well as vaccinations, including HPV vaccination and those needed before and during pregnancy. Actually, I see a wide range of patients with different complaints regularly in my office and in the hospital.

Dr. Tayebeh Amirimoghadam: Gynecology has experienced significant change and improvement around the world in the last 10–15 years, and Iran is no exception. There have been broader developments in technology, medical science, and healthcare policies in Iran. One of these is improved access to healthcare. For example, recently, many facilities have been established in rural areas, whereas in the past, there weren’t enough modern facilities. The majority of people used to travel to urban areas to access such services. Also, many medical universities across Iran provide opportunities for medical students to enhance their knowledge of medical science. Research from around the world is accessible to these students. Another advancement is in diagnostic technology. For example, diagnostic procedures such as MRI, minimally invasive tools, and 3D sonography are available in Iran. To improve diagnosis of patient complaints, medical universities and hospitals have several facilities and tools to help students learn new procedures such as minimally invasive surgery, hysteroscopy, and laparoscopy. All these procedures are accessible to surgeons throughout Iran. Additionally, a majority of reproductive and infertility treatment clinics have recently started operating across Iran. The government has also recently modified reproductive rights in these clinics, providing patients the opportunity to use new procedures such as sperm cell and ovum donation for infertility treatment.

Dr. Tayebeh Amirimoghadam: Gynecologists in Iran face several challenging situations—some influenced by cultural and religious sensitivities, and others by government policies and rules. For example, one of the most significant challenges is related to abortion and contraception. Honestly, due to the low population growth rate in Iran, contraception and abortion have recently become illegal. Specifically, abortion after 18 weeks of gestation is banned, even in cases of fetal anomalies. There are also limitations regarding screening tests for genetic disorders and fetal anomalies. As per government policy, due to low population growth, some of these genetic disorder tests are considered illegal or unnecessary, based on the belief that they aren’t crucial during pregnancy. Another challenge is related to certain religious beliefs, especially in rural areas. Some people in these regions have low awareness about the potential consequences of pregnancy-related complications and do not prefer to seek help from gynecologists. They believe it is not essential to treat or follow up on such complaints. Additionally, the current political and economic situation in Iran creates new difficulties. For example, new instruments and advanced procedures are not accessible in every hospital due to economic constraints. This limits opportunities for gynecologists who are passionate about improving their skills and learning new techniques. Despite these challenges, the majority of gynecologists in my country continue to show resilience and adaptability. They are committed to improving women’s health and raising awareness among women about their bodies. They also strive to change certain cultural and religious beliefs that are not right.

Dr. Tayebeh Amirimoghadam: My patients’ awareness about IVF and assisted reproductive technologies depends on their socioeconomic status, overall awareness, and level of education. Sometimes, those who are dealing with infertility complications are referred to other clinics, where they receive information through brochures, gynecologists, or online resources. I believe some of my patients have unrealistic expectations about their treatment. These days in Iran, most infertility cases are age-related, which makes treatment more difficult. So, many patients have higher expectations from their gynecologists, which becomes a challenging situation for some—myself included.

Dr. Tayebeh Amirimoghadam: Honestly, nowadays, Iranian women are increasingly open to discussing fertility complications and women’s health—especially younger women in urban areas. They prefer to talk about their health problems, new procedures, technical instruments, and updated infertility treatments. But there are still challenges in rural areas. In urban settings, younger women tend to share their experiences and fertility concerns more freely. The most common fertility issues in Iran, like in other parts of the world, include PCOS, uterine and tubal complications, hormonal imbalances, lifestyle-related factors, and sometimes endometriosis and its infertility consequences. Other contributing factors include obesity, stress, and in some cases, male infertility. In my opinion, addressing these problems requires strong technical, interpersonal, and surgical skills when needed, and enough experience in treating complications like hormonal imbalance. It also requires having access to modern instruments, technical procedures, and enough experience in IVF and other reproductive techniques. Honestly, Iran has many reproductive clinics, and most experienced gynecologists in infertility treatment work in these clinics and have the required skills and experience to address fertility concerns.

Dr. Tayebeh Amirimoghadam: In my country, like in many others, there are national programs to boost awareness about women’s health and screenings. For example, in May 2025, the Iranian Health Ministry launched a comprehensive pilot screening program to test for breast, cervical, and colon cancers among adults aged 30 to 75. In some parts of the country, like Isfahan and Mazandaran, and through earlier programs like the Saba Women’s Health Record launched in 2012, screening tests for breast and cervical cancer are available. Women who are eligible are offered Pap smear tests and referred for mammography as part of these efforts. Recently, the government has also tried to raise awareness among midwives and healthcare workers in clinics about these screening programs. They are expected to regularly contact women, offer screening tests, and ensure follow-up visits. If any complications related to women’s health are detected, they must refer the patients to a gynecologist’s office or a specialized clinic.

Dr. Tayebeh Amirimoghadam: There are several superstitions and unreal beliefs among people in my country, especially in rural and religious areas. For example, some avoid eating certain fruits and vegetables—like carrots—because they believe these foods can cause fetal anomalies or negatively affect fetal growth. Another common belief is that sexual activity during pregnancy can directly harm the baby’s health, so the majority of them avoid it altogether. It creates a challenging situation for gynecologists trying to change these beliefs. I try to visit these patients several times over multiple sessions. I also provide brochures and factual knowledge, sometimes writing information for them and their families about the harmful consequences of these beliefs. Additionally, I have an Instagram page and a website, which I share with patients so they can access reliable information about these myths.

Dr. Tayebeh Amirimoghadam: The majority of younger women now prefer to postpone their childbearing due to several reasons—such as the economic situation, extended and higher education, late marriage, and prioritizing career or job. So, most of them have done some research about different ways of egg freezing and fertility preservation in Iran, and they prefer to use this type of treatment. This type of fertility preservation has recently become popular in Iran, like in other countries. Fortunately, all of these options are accessible in many fertility clinics in Iran. Women can freeze their eggs for several years and use them in the future.

Dr. Tayebeh Amirimoghadam: In my country, as I mentioned earlier, there are several cultural challenges and contexts that affect how people talk about their health—especially in the gynecological field. One of them is that there are cultural and religious sensitivities around discussing a woman’s complaints related to menstruation before marriage. Also, some women avoid having gynecological examinations regularly because they feel shy about genital exams, which again relates to our cultural background. Women before marriage aren’t allowed to have any sexual activity. So, some of them—if they do have sexual activity—avoid going to gynecologists for screening tests like Pap smears or regular genital examinations. I think this can have detrimental consequences, such as abnormalities in the cervix due to a lack of proper checkups. There are also challenges among older women. Some of them are shy and believe that it’s inappropriate to go to a gynecologist for genital exams because they think only their husband is allowed to see their genital area. I believe this mindset negatively impacts their health. I’ve seen many older patients who haven’t had regular checkups, and they come to my clinic only after facing the detrimental consequences of conditions like breast cancer or cervical cancer—often due to a lack of awareness about women’s health.

Dr. Tayebeh Amirimoghadam: Working as a gynecologist gives me a chance to care for women’s health in my country. I also love delivering babies, which I think is one of the most emotional and profound moments in medicine—supporting a woman to deliver her baby. In my country, the majority of women need to be healthy, and being a gynecologist provides the opportunity to help them, especially in high-risk and difficult situations. Supporting people during pregnancy, particularly high-risk cases, gives me great satisfaction in my career and job. It’s also the best opportunity for me to educate and empower women in my country, raising their awareness about their bodies—such as sexual health and different aspects at various stages of life, like contraception, pregnancy, premenopause, and menopause difficulties. Actually, this work gives me a strong sense of fulfillment and satisfaction in my career.