25 July 2008
Celebrating 1000 babies on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the birth of first IVF baby Louise Brown.
Thirty years since the birth of Louise Brown, the Assisted Conception Unit in Sheffield managed by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, is celebrating the births of over 1000 babies using IVF (in vitro fertilisation and IUI intra-uterine insemination) techniques.
The UK was the world’s first with the work by Steptoe and Edwards leading to the birth of Louise Brown in Oldham Manchester. The techniques have been perfected over the years and now national figures show that 1 out of 4 women undergoing IVF go on to give birth to a healthy baby with the Sheffield centre having an excellent success rate.
There are a number of treatments available dependent on the root cause. Most of the treatments require medication containing Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), which controls follicle and egg development. The simplest form of treatment uses mild stimulation to encourage egg development which is timed in order to maximise the chance of pregnancy. In vitro fertilisation, also known as a ‘test tube’ baby technique is where the ovaries are stimulated by drugs to produce eggs. The eggs are then removed through a fine needle and introduced to the sperm under strict laboratory conditions. The fertilised eggs are now embryos and the healthiest ones are selected for transfer back into the uterus.
Intra-uterine insemination is a very mild procedure with minimal complications where a sample of motile sperm is prepared by the embryologist and placed directly inside the uterus with conception occurring naturally inside the body using a natural or stimulated cycle.
Michelle Dilaurenzio underwent fertility treatment in 2004;
“My husband and I have been trying for a baby for four years without success. We were a bit nervous on our first visit to the Jessop Wing but we needn’t have worried, everyone was really friendly and understanding. I was one of the lucky ones, I managed to get pregnant after the second cycle of treatment and we now have a beautiful little girl. For us, Katy is our little miracle!”
Rachel Cutting is the Principal Embryologist;
“Offering couples the chance to have a baby is the most rewarding job in the world. Many people come to us wanting to start a family so when they find out there are things we can do to help, it is the news they really want to hear.
“It is amazing that just thirty years ago, there was little hope for childless couples. Thanks to the ground breaking work in fertility treatments and advances in science we can provide a full range of treatments to help couples realize their dream.”
The Assisted Conception Unit is a purpose built dedicated centre offering a full range of assisted conception treatments for NHS and self funding (but not for profit) patients. It is located on the ground floor of the Jessop Wing. The Unit has long been known as a centre of excellence for the investigation and management of infertile couples.