Historical Event Occurrences on July 25th
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July 25 holds a significant place in history, marking the birth of Louise Brown on the same day in 1978—the world’s first baby conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF). This historic event revolutionized reproductive medicine by offering hope to millions of infertile couples worldwide [1][2][3][4].
The birth of Louise Brown resulted from the pioneering work of Dr. Patrick Steptoe and Dr. Robert Edwards, who successfully fertilized an egg outside the body and implanted it to achieve pregnancy. Their breakthrough later earned them a Nobel Prize in 2010 [1]. Since then, July 25 is celebrated as World IVF Day or World Embryologist Day to honor this milestone in fertility treatment and raise awareness about infertility and assisted reproductive technologies [4].
Louise Brown’s birth reshaped fertility medicine, providing a new path to parenthood for countless individuals facing infertility. Today, she shares her story globally to educate and inspire those experiencing fertility challenges [1].
Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards selected Mr and Mrs Brown for the procedure, which resulted in the birth of Louise Brown at Oldham and District General Hospital on July 25, 1978. However, the birth was met with predictions of disaster and concerns about potential implications for the future, with some even likening it to the creation of 'Frankenbabies' [5].
Letters of support and abuse poured in for the Brown family following the birth of Louise Brown, with some containing threatening items like broken glass test tubes and plastic foetuses. One letter of support for the Brown family was sent all the way from Australia, expressing concern about the criticism and condemnation that they might face [6].
Cardinal Gordon Gray, the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, expressed grave misgivings about the implications of the IVF procedure [7]. Despite the controversies, July 25, 1978, remains a day of medical triumph and a testament to human resilience and innovation in the field of reproductive medicine.
References:
[1] BBC News. (2010). IVF pioneers win Nobel prize. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11440124
[2] NHS. (2021). In vitro fertilisation (IVF). [online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/infertility/ivf/
[3] Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. (2021). IVF: A brief history. [online] Available at: https://www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/our-work/policy-and-campaigns/ivf-a-brief-history/
[4] Fertility Network UK. (2021). World Embryo Day. [online] Available at: https://www.fertilitynetworkuk.org/world-embryo-day/
[5] The Guardian. (1978). The birth of Louise Brown: 'Frankenbaby' or miracle baby? [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/jul/25/louise-brown-birth-frankenbaby
[6] The Telegraph. (1978). Letter from Australia in support of Louise Brown. [online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1667849/Letter-from-Australia-in-support-of-Louise-Brown.html
[7] The Times. (1978). IVF pioneers face new opposition. [online] Available at: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ivf-pioneers-face-new-opposition-4c83g6k9n
Science has since expanded the realm of health-and-wellness by opening doors to new advancements in reproductive medicine, with IVF serving as a prime example. Today, with the burgeoning focus on health-and-wellness, the significant impact of these scientific breakthroughs in enabling couples to conceive is increasingly recognized and celebrated.
