Almost half a century ago, a maverick event marked the course of medical history into a new and revolutionary phase. The birth of Louise Brown on 25th July 1978 marked the world's first baby born through a process of In-Vitro Fertilization or IVF. With Louise Brown, hope for millions of infertile couples dawned across the globe and massive debates followed regarding the ethics of assisted reproduction. The new drama for Netflix is titled Joy after Louise's middle name, takes viewers back to the great journey of pioneers for this groundbreaking achievement. Louise, 46 now and working at a bakery in Bristol, has heard more than her share of thanks from strangers. She's quick to say, however, that it is her parents and the triumvirate of British visionaries-physician Robert Edwards, embryology nurse Jean Purdy, and gynecologic surgeon Patrick Steptoe-who faced incredible obstacles to make her existence possible.“I still get people come up to me saying, ‘Oh, you’re amazing.’ And I’m like, ‘I didn’t do anything, it was Mum and Dad and the three doctors.’ It’s lovely people who want to thank them,” told The US Sun.Netflix drama Joy looks at the sacrifices made by the team to create IVF. Dr. Robert Edwards started his research into fertilization in 1955, but in 1968, he was the first to fertilize a human egg. However, the success did not attract encouraging support from the medical fraternity, and Edwards did not get any funds for continued research. He, along with nurse Jean Purdy and surgeon Patrick Steptoe, planned a clinic in an abandoned ward of Royal Oldham Hospital.The couple had personal and professional challenges. Edwards was away from his family and children for 170 miles, Purdy had conflict with her religious mother, and Steptoe was putting off his retirement dreams. Public opposition further tested their strength, and opponents referred to their work as unnatural and even vandalized their clinic with the word "Frankenbabies."Their diligence paid off after years of trial and error. A breakthrough came when Edwards decided to use a naturally produced egg instead of stimulating the ovaries through hormones. This new approach proved successful with Louise's mother, Lesley, who had been trying to conceive for a decade. A Miracle Amidst ControversyLesley Brown and her husband, John, decided they would like a child even though the odds were completely stacked against them. Diagnosed with blocked fallopian tubes, Lesley was told that her chances of conceiving were one in a million. Lesley approached Steptoe for assistance after a gynecological operation she was obliged to pay for herself, thanks to a win on her football pools. The Browns were entered in the experimental IVF procedure.Lesley’s faith in the team was unwavering. Louise recounted, “If they had said, ‘Go into Trafalgar Square and stand on your head naked and you’ll get pregnant,’ she would have”, as reported in The US Sun.The process worked on the 101st attempt. A single egg fertilized in a petri dish with John's sperm was successfully implanted in Lesley's womb. Nine months later, Louise was delivered via Caesarean section, with the world's media waiting outside the hospital.Although successful, the aftermath of birth for Louise was far from smooth. Her family received death threats and vile messages - once even a smashed test tube through the post with a foetus-like object inside - and Louise herself was subjected to over 100 tests as a newborn to dispel doubts about her health.While her birth was a scientific success, it was also an intensely personal one. "When I had my sons, I realized how good those people were,"* Louise said, speaking of the sacrifices of her parents and the scientists."The film Joy honors the work of the trio, especially Jean Purdy, who died at 39 years of age in 1985. Although she played a critical role, the historical accounts of her work were often overlooked. Her name wasn't put on the plaque celebrating the team's triumph until 2022.It was Dr Robert Edwards, who continued to keep in touch with Louise even up to his death in 2013, who was rewarded with the Nobel Prize in 2010 for his work on IVF. Jean and Patrick were both deceased by then.Louise summarizes, "They have done it for 12 million of us. I owe them my life. I'd do anything for any of them, my parents, and the three scientists.Today, over 12 million babies worldwide have been born through IVF-a testament to the vision and perseverance of Edwards, Purdy, and Steptoe. Louise Brown's story, now immortalized in Joy, is as much a story of medical innovation as it is about human resilience and the power of hope. The Long-Term Effects of IVF on Modern Health CareBirth of Louise Brown was more than a medical milestone; it led to revolution in reproductive healthcare. Successive decades have changed millions of lives through IVF technology with hope for individuals and couples wanting a child. Beyond the origins, the field of ART has evolved into a wide research sector that pushes beyond the frontiers of science and redefines possible interventions in human reproduction.Success in IVF has led to research on related techniques, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), vitrified eggs, and preimplantation genetic testing. These all granted the power of reproductive control, allowing even in defiance of age, genetic conditions, or cancer treatments, to plan a family.The principles developed by the original IVF team have paved the way for better understanding of reproductive biology, innovation in treating problems like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and endometriosis. The existence of IVF has raised awareness about infertility and helped reduce the stigma around seeking medical help.Still, with every medical discovery, IVF has its unique share of hurdles. Many issues concerned with accessibility and affordability ensue and take center stage in the ART discourse, and along with the potential to transform lives, IVF is still expensive for many people, a challenge for global health organizations to equitably access.Health care providers emphasize the value of education and support provided to patients at every step of the IVF process. IVF often requires multiple attempts and is often physically, emotionally, and financially stressful. Support for psychological well-being has increasingly been an essential element of treatment through counseling and stress management in IVF clinics.
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