Fertility Associates

Conceiving a child can be one of the most wonderful things in the world, second maybe to holding that child in your hands, but for many it simply isn’t possible. Until the advent of IVF there used to be nothing but old-wive’s tales to combat a poor natural fertility, but now with the advancements in tin science and neo natal methodologies, many infertile couples are becoming pregnant.

Natural infertility affects many women and men across the globe in different ways but the result is always the same, a child cannot be conceived. In a situation where a couple are unable to naturally conceive, a doctor may recommend a course of IVF treatment from an authorized clinic. Of course, IVF isn’t jumped to at the first signs of difficulty; there is a waiting time and a set period of natural methods before the invitro fertilization process is recommended.

An IVF pregnancy does not simply involve the laboratory fertilization of an egg by a sperm, the end result is achieved after a long procedure of fertility treatment which culminates in the cells fertilized by sperm outside of the womb of a woman i.e. Invitro. The processes behind IVF are quite fascinating; Ovulation, which is hormonally controlled, is allowed to function normally before some eggs are removed from the women’s ovaries. These eggs are then transferred to a Petri dish and fertilised with some sperm in a liquid. Once fertilized, the egg is termed a zygote, at this stage it is transferred back into the uterus of the women.

Of course, that’s the simple version, you also have to consider that the ovum and sperm must be very healthy examples and that they have a healthy uterus that can maintain pregnancy. With these aspects in mind, it is clear to see why IVF is not always successful but when it is, it is a work of miracle for those couples that benefit.
The history of IVF is an interesting tale in itself, pioneered in the UK, it was seen by many as a dark art and frowned upon by the church. But with such incredible possibilities for people across the world, work was persevered on establishing a way to help couples with fertility issues have a child. And so it came to pass, that at 11.47pm on 25 July 1978 in Greater Manchester, the world’s first IVF baby was born. Named Louise Joy Brown and weighing 5lb 12oz, IVF proved itself to be a phenomenal success and 30 years later, more than 13,000 IVF babies are born in the UK every year.

Obviously with the possibility to create life in a laboratory, there were many ethical issues that needed addressing. So, first in Austrailia in 1980, then in the UK in 1991, legislation was created and a regulator was formed to govern the IVF arena. Now commonplace, IVF has become a run of the mill medical procedure that is available on the NHS and brings joy to the lives of millions around the globe.