The development of technology in our World has brought about a significant impact on our daily lives. Technology is one of the most revolutionary transformations in the 21st century. It has even gone a long way to impact our simple, essential lives.
This technological impact transcends into the Medical World. In the past, some health conditions like infertility left many in total frustration and a helpless state. Because many thought there was no way for any solution to be delivered after several attempts, they resorted to seeking a child through a surrogacy place.
Many groundbreaking breakthroughs have been recorded in medicine since the invention of assisted reproductive technology in this field. Thankfully, the infertility issue has progressed more than any other medical focus today within a short time through ARTs like in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Let’s delve into in vitro fertilization (IVF) as one of assisted reproductive technologies’ evolution and development over the years.
The Evolution
The first experiments of fertility treatments date back to the 1800s. Professor Walter Heape communicated the first recorded instance of embryo transplanting in 1890. Since then, until the first human IVF pregnancy in 1973, there has been constant research, creative thinking, and experimenting.
Sadly, the first-ever human IVF pregnancy ended in embryo death, but it opened the path for the World to finally discover the endless potential of reproduction through ARTs.
In 1978, civilization saw the birth of the very first “test-tube baby.” Dr. Robert Edwards and Dr. Patrick Steptoe became the first to achieve successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy in July 1978. Since then, improvements in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have seen rapid development and growth.
Certainly, what was considered by many in 1978 as an uncertain medical curiosity has significantly impacted the future chances of infertile couples and is to thank for a growing percentage of the World’s births.
Developments of ARTs
Many developments in ART have raised success rates while also providing couples receiving treatment with a wide choice of alternatives.
Current optimizations for in vitro fertilization (IVF) delivery, such as the use of minimum stimulation treatments and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist cycle causes, continue to be utilized to ensure the safety of patients. Also, patients are educated to balance hormones through diet to improve IVF outcomes.
Changes like those seen in the embryology laboratory continue to increase conception rates. Along with the developments in IVF, complementary technologies such as embryonic genetic testing and oocyte conservation have emerged, potentially benefiting both fertile and infertile couples.
As these relevant ART applications become more widely used, society has to make sure that these tools are made easily accessible in an appropriate and equal manner. Technological innovations that are now being created and polished can potentially revolutionize the area of ART in even more spectacular and fascinating ways in the future.
Many of these technologies that specialize in the genetic diagnosis of growing embryos or oocyte cryopreservation impact the medical care of people with and without infertility diagnoses.
Conclusion
Since the groundbreaking revelation of the World’s first Test Tube Baby in 1978, the progress of ARTs has stretched not just the boundaries of reproductive capacity but also the popular thoughts regarding pregnancy. ARTs such as IVF have given people more options, new obligations, views, and exciting contradictions.
