How did Robert Edwards develop IVF technique?
The development of IVF was a methodical process built on years of laboratory observation. I began by studying the timing of ovulation in women, using hormonal assays to pinpoint the optimal moment for egg retrieval. Patrick Steptoe, a skilled surgeon, pioneered laparoscopy to collect eggs from the ovaries. In the lab, I focused on creating the right culture conditions—temperature, pH, and nutrient media—to support fertilization and early embryo growth. We faced countless failures: many embryos arrested at the two-cell stage, and initial implantations did not lead to pregnancies. But I believed that infertility is a disease, and we have a duty to treat it. By refining the timing of embryo transfer and using natural hormonal cycles, we finally achieved success. The first IVF baby, Louise Brown, was born on July 25, 1978, proving that our method worked.
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