40 years of IVF: treatments are more advanced and getting cheaper

Since the birth of the first “test-tube baby” in 1978, fertility techniques, known as IVF (in vitro fertilisation) have gone through major leaps, opening the possibility of becoming parents to millions. The constantly developing technology means that treatment is becoming cheaper and older people can also dream of parenthood.

In 10 seconds? More people are having children thanks to IVF than ever before. This is due to some key developments in techniques, improving the preservation of eggs, sperm and embryos, genetic screening and the selection of the fittest embryos.