The first successful IVF baby, Louise Brown, was born in 1978. Since then, it’s estimated that at least 8 million children have been born via IVF in just 44 years. Credited as the “most significant medical breakthrough of the 20th century” many couples have had to opt for this innovative and often difficult and painful treatment each year.
Despite being a viable choice for many couples, there is still a stigma around the issue of infertility that persists to this day.
During IVF, an egg is removed from a woman’s ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. The successful embryo is then returned to a woman’s womb to grow to full-term. The benefit of this procedure is that neither the egg, sperm or the person who give birth to the baby have to be the biological parents, so this opens up the choice for those who wish to be parents but cannot conceive naturally.
After following a similar procedure for animal breeding developed by Chang and Yanagamici in Korea, British gynaecologist Patrick Steptoe and Cambridge physiologist Robert G. Edwards pioneered the first successful pregnancy in 1978, resulting in the birth of Louise Joy Brown. Labelled as the world’s first “test tube baby”, her birth chartered the beginning of brand new possibilities for those struggling to have children.
Despite an estimated 3.5 million people in the UK having a known fertility problem (with around 30% from women, 30% from men and 40% unknown) it still remains a taboo topic, with 47% of people going through treatment not telling their friends or family. The biggest reason, chronicled by Apricity, is shame and embarrassment (52%).
Stereotypically, feelings of shame and embarrassment come from the traditional ideals of masculinity or femininity. Often, men and women will discuss navigating feelings of failure, or feeling “less than” if they are not able to conceive naturally without medical aid. These gender stereotypes are often harmful in a multitude of different ways, and often cause distress, frustration and sadness in aspiring parents.
Research also shows that aspiring parents feel isolated in the workplace, through the fear of being judged for taking time off work for doctor’s appointments, sickness or potential side effects. There is also confusion around what workplace policies can accommodate different types of parental or medical leave, and what compensation may be available.
Whilst there is still a stigma attached to infertility, more and more well-known figures have started to talk openly about their struggles to have children naturally and turned to IVF. Those include Michelle Obama (both daughters were born via IVF), Emma Thompson (her daughter was born via IVF) and Gordon Ramsey (three out of four children were born via IVF). Naturally, IVF also opens up avenues for LGBTQ+ couples to have children who are biologically related to them where possible.
Louise spoke at a Fertility event on IVF in Germany with CEO Christoph Müller-Guntrum, Nov 2022.
Since the birth of Louise Brown, there have been incredible strides both medically and culturally towards the evolution and necessity of IVF. With assisted conception and other routes such as fostering and adoption available, there are now more options than ever, albeit not without difficulty, for those who wish to be parents.