Dr. K.S. Kavitha Gautham, MBBS, MS (OG)

Dr. K.S. Kavitha Gautham, MBBS, MS (OG)

Medical Director, Bloom Fertility & Multispecialty Hospital, Chennai (India)

Dr. K.S. Kavitha Gautham is a renowned obstetrician and gynaecologist, and a best infertility doctor (specialist) in Chennai, with over 20 years of experience in her field. She is the co-founder and Medical Director of Bloom Fertility & Multispecialty Hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (India).

Education

Dr. Kavitha holds a post-graduate degree in Obstetrics & Gynaecology from Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research University, Tamil Nadu (India), and a diploma in Reproductive Medicine from the University of Kiel, Kiel (Germany). She has also attained multiple certifications from accredited institutions around the world, including from the National University of Singapore (Singapore) for Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility at the National University of Singapore (Singapore), FIMSA certification from International Medical Science Academy (affiliated to Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons, Glasgow, United Kingdom), FICOG from the Indian college of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, a certification in Ultrasound in Infertility & Gynaecology from Dr. Nagori’s Institute for Infertility & IVF, Ahmedabad (India), as well as a certificate in Reproductive Medicine & IVF and Advanced Certificate Course in Reproductive Medicine & IVF from Homerton University Hospital NHS, Dubai (UAE).

Learning has been a lifelong passion for Dr. Kavitha and she continues to host and participate in CMEs. She has spoken on male infertility (Chennai, 2018), and on ‘Sexual health – A fertility specialist’s perspective’ at a CME on Management of Common Sexual Dysfunctions (2019). She has hosted several international CMEs, some of which include ‘Right Time to move the patient to ART Centre’ (20110, ‘Hands on Training in Colposcopy Cervical Screening’ (2014) ‘Sexual Medicine’ (2014), ‘Discussion in Oestradiol Level’ (2015), ‘Neuro Development’ (2015), ‘Natural Birthing’ (2016),

Dr. Kavitha has been a regular participant and speaker at international conferences, including ‘FIGO 2006’ by the World Congress of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (Malaysia, 2006), Pre Congress course and Workshop in the 28th Annual Meeting of European Society of Human Reproduction & Embryology (Turkey, 2012; UK, 2013; Portugal, 2015; Finland, 2016; Switzerland, 2017; Austria, 2019). She has delivered Guest Lectures at SAFOG 2015 (South Asia Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nepal, 2015), Participated in the Pre Congress course and spoke on “When IVF fails: Optimal management of recurrent implantation failure” at the Annual Meeting of European Society of Human Reproduction & Embryology (Portugal, 2015),

Experience

As a best infertility doctor in chennai, Dr. Kavitha has performed over 10,000 deliveries, 10,000 hystero-laparoscopy surgeries and over 5,000 IVF cycles to date. She was the first doctor in South India to successfully conduct a water birth in a VBAC case.

Dr. Kavitha is best known for her ‘magic hands’ that have helped fulfil the dream of parenting for people who had literally given up hope due to multiple IVF failures. The reason behind her high rates of success in such cases stems from the fact that she adopts a holistic, 360-degree approach to the issue – including advanced medical treatment, psychological counselling for the couple and guidance on beneficial lifestyle changes. She has also helped women with cancer conceive and deliver babies successfully (post their cancer treatment and therapy). She is the leading infertility specialist in chennai.

Dr. Kavitha established Bloom Child & Women Wellness in 2010. When the institution was shifted to and inaugurated at its current location in 2014, the name was changed to Bloom Fertility & Multispecialty Hospital. Today, the 50-bedded multi-specialty hospital offers a complete range of medical services (including emergency and trauma care), plans are in the offing to open a second wing in the vicinity so as to be able to serve more people effectively. International collaborative efforts (with healthcare facilities in Mauritius and Sri Lanka) have been ongoing for a few years now, and there is a possibility of expanding these efforts within these countries and to other geographies as well.

The founding principle of Bloom Fertility & Multispecialty Hospital was to provide holistic healthcare at affordable costs for all. This has been the guiding value, right from the inception of the institution till date – and will continue to be so in the coming days as well. Dr. Kavitha personally believes that quality healthcare is everyone’s right, and that it is the medical industry’s responsibility to ensure that every health need is fulfilled with due responsibility and empathy. In line with this guiding principle, the hospital has been at the forefront of organising several free health camps from 2011 to 2019 (prior to the COVID-related lockdown). The camps were centred on fertility issues, pregnant women’s health, screening for gynaecological issues, and multi-speciality issues.

As part of her aim to increase awareness of health issues, particularly in the lower income strata, Dr. Kavitha has organised several special camps at no cost to participants. These include the Diabetes Health Camp in collaboration with Smile Foundation for the women of a local slum, free blood investigation along with ultrasonogram for the women in the post-menopausal, Health Awareness Programme for children of First School in Velachery, talks on ‘Awareness on infertility’ at DLF Chennai, talks on ‘Women Health – Cervical & Breast Cancer Awareness’ at Tata Consultancy Solutions branches & Amada Soft India, talk on ’Women Health – Cervical & Breast Cancer Awareness’ at corporates (including e4e, Techno soft Global, DLF, “Nalanda” – United Health Insurance Learning Centre)

Under Dr. Kavitha’s charge, Bloom Fertility & Multispecialty Hospital continued to function in full capacity through the COVID pandemic in 2020 and 2021, and admitted COVID-positive pregnant women who were finding it hard to gain admission at the peak of the COVID pandemic. Dr. Kavitha herself successfully delivered babies from COVID-positive mothers during the COVID pandemic. It is a matter of happiness and pride to share that 119 deliveries were successfully completed at Bloom Fertility & Multispecialty Hospital during the COVID pandemic in 2021.

Philosophy

Dr. Kavitha’s education and work experience in India and countries around the world have given her a multi-faceted understanding of not just scientific advancements in her field, but also a deeper understanding of the Western and Eastern approaches to medicine. She believes that a marriage of advanced medical techniques and deep respect for our innate, natural intelligence is essential for health and well-being. Hence, she is a strong advocate of the natural birthing process, and believes that the use of invasive procedures and medication should be approached as secondary tools – to be used as needed.

In this regard, it is worth mentioning that Dr. Kavitha has a successful history of helping mothers who have undergone caesareans in the past to experience vaginal means of delivery. She also recommends an open, collaborative approach to the birthing process, and has long encouraged to-be fathers to participate in the pregnancy and delivery process.

Dr. Kavitha’s philosophy and approach are an integral part of all her initiatives, particularly in the field of healthcare. She is one of the first few gynaecologists in South India to propose that natural birthing and water birthing be given medical and legal licence. A yoga practitioner, she believes that healing begins only when we are able to respect our bodies and accord it the needed care and appropriate form of sustenance.

In recent years, she has been speaking in interviews and writing articles in national newspapers and magazines to bring awareness to the continued presence of social stigma surrounding issues related to sexual health (such as male sexual problems, vaginismus and infertility). Her writings and interviews highlight the need to open up a safe space for discussion about such issues, and to foster empathy and support for those undergoing such issues and requiring assistance and support. She also seeks to encourage healthy, mindful living from a young age.

Professional Memberships

Dr. Kavitha is a Life Member of the European Society of Reproductive Medicine & Indian Society of Reproductive Medicine, and All India Congress of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Obstetric and Gynaecological Society of Southern India, Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India, and the Indian Medical Association. She is a Fellow of the Indian College of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and International Medical Science Academy, and Member of the council of International Organizations of Medical Sciences, Geneva. She was appointed as the Managing Committee Member of the Tamil Nadu chapter of the Indian Association of Gynaecological Endoscopy (IAGE).

Awards

Dr. Kavitha has been the recipient of several awards, including the prestigious ‘J.L. Javeri Award’ (AICOG, 2005). She was felicitated as ‘Fellow of International Academy of Medical Sciences (FIMSA)’ (Affiliated to Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 2015) and ‘Fellow of Indian college of Obstetricians & Gynaecology (FICOG)’ (All India congress of Indian Obstetricians and Gynaecologist, 2016). She also received the ‘Excellence in Healthcare – Infertility & IVF Treatments award’ (The Chennai City ICON Awards, 2019), ‘Wonder FOGSIAN Award’ (FOGSI, 2019) and was chosen as the ‘Youth Icon in Healthcare & IVF Treatment’ (Radio City, 2019).

Research and Publications

Dr. Kavitha has published her work in noteworthy journals, including International Journal of Reproductive Medicine & Gynaecology (on stress and depression during assisted reproductive technology treatment), Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (on modified pelvic floor repair with total prevention of vault prolapsed), and in Statperson National (on fibroid uterus with ovarian tumour with short duration).

She has also authored chapters on ‘Follicle Stimulating Hormones’, ‘High-order Pregnancies’ and ‘Fibroid Complications in Pregnancies’ in medical textbooks used in regional medical colleges.

Dr. Kavitha’s research interests span segmental IVF outcomes, HCG flushing, monitoring Oestradiol levels for better pregnancy outcomes, and maternal and neonatal well-being in water births.