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July 25th marks World IVF Day, also known as World Embryologist Day, commemorating the birth of the first test tube baby, Louise Brown, in 1978 through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) in Oldham, northwest England. This revolutionary technique has brought hope and joy to millions of couples worldwide, resulting in over 8 million babies born through IVF.

World IVF Day serves as a reminder of the groundbreaking advancements in fertility treatments, offering hope to those yearning for parenthood. It raises awareness about infertility challenges, encourages open conversations, and reduces the stigma around seeking fertility assistance.

Before IVF, couples faced limited options in overcoming infertility struggles. In 1978, Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe achieved a historic milestone by successfully helping a woman give birth to the world’s first test tube baby. Till date, IVF remains one of the most effective and widely used assisted reproductive technologies.

What is IVF
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In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is one of several techniques available to help people with fertility problems have a baby. During IVF, an egg is removed from the woman’s ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. The fertilised egg, called an embryo, is then returned to the woman’s womb to grow and develop.


Who is an Embryologist?
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Embryologists are highly trained medical professionals responsible for managing genetic materials (sperm and eggs) as they develop into embryos. They ensure that the embryology laboratory provides an ideal environment for embryo growth and storage. Embryologists play a vital role in your child’s first stages during your fertility journey.


World Embryologist Day History and Milestone Achievements
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1890’s: [/b]First reported case of embryo transplantation in rabbits.
[b]1959: The first birth in a nonhuman mammal (a rabbit) resulting from IVF occurred.
1969: A human egg was successfully fertilized outside a woman’s body for the first time.
1973: First positive pregnancy after transferring an embryo into the uterus. Unfortunately, the pregnancy resulted in a miscarriage early on.
1978: The first baby ever born through IVF. Louise Brown was born in Oldham, United Kingdom, on July 25th, 1978, due to the collaborative work of Sir Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe. Edwards received a Nobel Prize in 2010 for the development of IVF.
1981: First IVF baby born in the United States. Elizabeth Carr was born on December 28th, 1981, in Norfolk, Virginia, credited to the work of doctors Howard and Georgeanna Jones.
1983: First baby born using egg donation, achieved by the Monash IVF team in Australia. The first pregnancy established using a donor embryo was also achieved in 1983.
1984: [/b]The first baby born from cryopreserved embryos.
[b]1990: Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is successfully applied in human embryology for the first time.
[b]1992: [/b]ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) procedure is performed for the first time.

What do you know about IVF? Have you tried any ART treatment before and what was your experience like? Kindly share below

Learn more about World IVF Day and other activities lined up for the day below

Happy IVF day

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how does IVF work

Curious345:
how does IVF work

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See below how IVF Work

IVF Treatment Process in a Simple Illustration
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