On July 25, 1978, the world's first baby conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF), Louise Joy Brown, was born at the Oldham and District General Hospital in Manchester, England, to parents Leslie and Peter Brown. The healthy baby was born via caesarean section just before midnight, weighing 5lbs 12oz.
Before giving birth to Louise, Leslie Brown was infertile for many years due to fallopian tube blockage . In November 1977, she underwent in vitro fertilization, which was still in the experimental stage at the time. A mature egg was removed from one of her ovaries and combined with her husband's sperm in a laboratory dish to form an embryo. A few days later, the embryo was implanted into her uterus. Her IVF doctor, British gynecologist Patrick Steptoe, and scientist Robert Edwards began their pioneering collaboration a decade ago. Once the media learned of Brown's pregnancy, the Browns faced intense public scrutiny. Louise's birth made headlines around the world and raised various legal and ethical questions.
A few years later, the Browns gave birth to their second daughter, Natalie, through in vitro fertilization. In May 1999, Natalie became the first baby to give birth to her own child through in vitro fertilization. This child was naturally conceived , alleviating people's concerns about women's inability to conceive naturally through in vitro fertilization. In December 2006, original "test tube baby" Louise Brown gave birth to a boy, Cameron John Mallinder, who was also conceived naturally.
Today, in vitro fertilization is considered a mainstream medical treatment for infertility. Thousands of children around the world have been conceived through this procedure, some using donated eggs and sperm.
