World Embryologist Day: Celebrating the Science of IVF
Each year on July 25th, we celebrate the incredible birth of the world’s first IVF baby: Louise Joy Brown. She was born thanks to the remarkable work of Robert (Bob) Edwards, biologist and physiologist, Patrick Steptoe, obstetrician and gynecologist, and Jean Purdy, research assistant and nurse, on July 25, 1978 in Oldham, UK. The scientific trio worked tirelessly to perfect fertilization techniques that had only resulted in successful births for animal models.
The First IVF Baby
It’s hard to imagine the In Vitro Fertilization process in its infancy stages when compared to the complex assisted reproductive technology used in procedures today!
Although Edwards and his colleagues experienced many challenges, they never gave up. The team finally granted the Brown family a successful pregnancy after an 8-cell fertilized egg was transferred at midnight on November 12, 1977. Louise was successfully delivered in July of the following year. A major milestone of scientific achievement, but also one that granted hope for the Browns and other infertile couples who dreamt of having children.
Louise became known as the “World’s First Test Tube Baby”, a nickname reflective of a time when In Vitro Fertilization was still considered a taboo and experimental procedure. Thankfully, the process of IVF has become a more mainstream and socially acceptable pathway to parenthood—but of course the work is not over yet.
There are still lingering feelings of resentment and social stigma associated with fertility assistance, even though the necessity for ART services continues to grow. We hope over time that these feelings change and do not create roadblocks for families overcoming their infertility struggles.
Life in the IVF Lab Today
Today, over 12 million babies are estimated to have been born through IVF and the number continues to grow!
In fact, this month marks the 40th anniversary of another important milestone: the birth of the first baby conceived by IVF in Spain, Victoria Anna. This was achieved by a Microptic customer, the Dexeus Mujer team from Barcelona led by Dr. Pedro N. Barri and the biologists Dr. Anna Veiga and Dr. Gloria Calderón.
Our team has just returned from the 40th meeting of ESHRE (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology) in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. A wonderful event that brings IVF practitioners from all over the world to participate in sharing the latest scientific advancements in the reproductive medicine field. Our products only serve as tools to help embryologists and andrologists provide the best care for their patients. Our customers are the true heroes.
During ESHRE, it was so humbling to have met so many inspirational IVF professionals who create life in their lab daily! Every time an embryologist injects sperm into an egg or performs an embryo transfer, they play a pivotal role in making someone’s dream come true. We are so proud and in awe of the amazing work performed by our customers every day!
Louise Joy Brown’s birthday serves as a beacon of light to hopeful parents and a reflection of the hardworking, persistent spirit of IVF professionals around the world. Happy birthday, Louise! Thank you for inspiring us all.
References:
Fishel S. First in vitro fertilization baby—this is how it happened. Fertility and Sterility. 2018 Jun 13; 110(1): P5-11. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.03.008. Open Access Article
Johnson MH. Robert Edwards: the path to IVF. Reprod Biomed Online. 2011 Aug; 23(2): 245-262. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2011.04.010. Open Access Article
Nugent C. What It Was Like to Grow Up as the World’s First ‘Test-Tube Baby’. Time. 2018 Jul 25: [1p.]. Open Access Article
Zhu T. In Vitro Fertilization: Embryo Project Encyclopedia [Internet]. Arizona State University; 2009 July 22 [cited 2024 Jul 22]. Available from: https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/vitro-fertilization.