Celebrating World IVF Day and World Embryologist Day 2025
On July 25, 1978, in the United Kingdom, Louise Joy Brown became the first baby to be born through in vitro fertilisation or IVF treatment, a procedure pioneered in the UK and still considered one of “the most remarkable medical breakthroughs of the 20th century”.
A crucial key to the success of the IVF treatment that led to Louise’s birth was the embryologist who cared for the eggs and sperm that was used to create the embryo that would eventually grow into baby Louise. As a result, on Louise’s birthday on 25 July, World Embryologist Day is observed globally, recognising the critical role embryologists play in helping millions of infertile couples to have the families they dream of.
The World’s Most Famous ‘Test-Tube’ Baby
The media dubbed Louise a “test-tube baby” – referring to the fact that her mother’s eggs were fertilised “in vitro”, which is Latin for “in glass”, referring to the glass jar used in the lab. The 40th IVF baby, born in 1982, was Louise’s sister Natalie.
Despite all the media attention over the last four decades, Louise lives a normal life in southwestern England with her husband and two sons, and has a job at a local company. She says that people still come up to her with thankfulness towards her mom, recalling about a recent encounter: “It was a woman, and she had a 4 year-old – the same age as my son – and a tiny baby in a pram. She said that she’d always wanted to thank my mum and me because without us she’d never have had those two. It makes you tear up.”
The Role Of Embryologists In IVF
Responsible for managing the care of the sperm, eggs and embryos in an IVF lab, embryologists are specialised fertility experts that are crucial to the success of any IVF treatment cycle. In vitro fertilization or IVF is a process of assisted reproduction therapy in which a woman’s eggs are collected and fertilised with sperm outside of her body to form an embryo, which is then transferred into her uterus to hopefully implant and become a pregnancy.
The primary medical professional involved with creating the embryos transferred during IVF is the embryologist. Embryologists are scientists involved in fertility treatment and reproductive research, who hold either a master’s or doctorate degree. They study sperm, eggs and embryos, and are the specialist laboratory staff who take care of human gametes and embryos in an optimal condition according to good laboratory practices.
The primary tasks of embryologists include determining the fertility levels of individuals; egg collection and processing; insemination; checking for fertilisation; monitoring embryo development; selecting the embryos for transfer; preservation of embryos, eggs and sperm; genetic testing; maintaining the laboratory’s optimum conditions; and managing sperm and egg banks.
Embryologists collect and care for the eggs and prepare them for insemination; assess, care for and prepare sperm samples; and inject eggs with sperm. They also do very detailed procedures such as selecting a single sperm to fertilise an egg, in an advanced procedure known as ICSI, short for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. In addition to egg retrievals, fertilisation and embryo transfers, embryologists also perform or assist with vitrification or rapid freezing of eggs, sperm and embryos to preserve these for a future date.
IVF Success And Impact
Since Louise Brown’s birth more than 40 years ago, around 6 million babies worldwide have been born through IVF, according to the Science Museum. In fact, the success rates for IVF treatment are now comparable – and even superior – to those of nature.
Just five years after Louise Brown’s birth, in 1983, the first IVF treatment was performed in South Africa at Tygerberg Hospital, by Medfem Fertility Clinic’s very own Dr Johan Van Schouwenburg, along with Professor Kruger.
Since then, Medfem Fertility Clinic has remained at the forefront of the development of infertility services in South Africa for over 30 years and successfully treated many thousands of patients with infertility problems.
IVF Treatment At Medfem Fertility Clinic
At Medfem Fertility Clinic, we believe in making world-class fertility treatments available for everyone and it is our joy and commitment to give you a positive outcome to your fertility journey, so you will have a fond memory of feeling empathy, caring and being part of the Medfem Fertility Clinic family.
Over the last three decades, Medfem Fertility Clinic has performed an average of 1,100 IVF treatment cycles a year! Our IVF fertility clinic maintains success rates that have consistently remained high and well above the national averages.
While couples undergoing IVF treatment may not spend much face-to-face time with the embryologist team, at Medfem Fertility Clinic, you can rest assured they are working hard in the lab to ensure the healthy development of your embryos!
Our patients undergoing IVF treatment are supported by a full IVF lab team, including senior embryologist Vicky Wolf and embryologists Monique Wheeler, Marlize Swanepoel and Robyn Leeke, working under the guidance of our Lab Director, Edolene Bosman.
We are proud to have played a role in bringing more than 18,000 babies into the world!
Feel Whole – Feel Empowered
If you would like to find out more about IVF and whether it is the right option for you, simply click here to book an initial consultation or contact us telephonically on +27 (11) 463 2244.
Our Fertility Specialists can also meet with You During a Virtual Consultation Via Zoom or Skype. Click here to book a virtual consultation now.
We look forward to meeting you at Medfem Fertility Clinic!
