Anniversary of Birth of World's First IVF Baby

FAIRFAX, Va., July 25, 2008 -- Genetics and IVF Institute announced today, on the 30th anniversary of the birth of the world's first IVF (in vitro fertilization) baby, that it has created more than 17,000 pregnancies through in vitro fertilization and other advanced techniques.

Louise Brown, the world's first baby born through in vitro fertilization, was born in England on July 25, 1978, and media outlets trumpeted the news of the first 'test tube baby', says David Wise, president and CEO of Genetics and IVF Institute (GIVF), which is based in Fairfax, VA.

 Now, people around the world are enjoying parenthood thanks to the invention of IVF by the remarkable British scientists Drs. Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe. We honor them today on the 30th anniversary of Louise Brown's birth.

Founded in 1984, GIVF was one of the first free-standing fertility treatment centers in America.

GIVF pioneered the development and implementation of many improved fertility treatment technologies and methods, including non-surgical retrieval of eggs and sperm, intracytoplasmic sperm injection and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis of embryos (PGD).

GIVF also developed a new, patented sperm separation technique for pre-conceptual gender selection called MicroSort (R) which is currently in an FDA clinical trial.

It is the only American infertility treatment center with its own donor egg and donor sperm programs.

GIVF also introduced high tech infertility treatment in China and is the only American center that provides infertility treatment in China.

Many of the pregnancies created at GIVF are in patients with particularly challenging infertility problems, including some who have been rejected for treatment by other centers.

Every pregnancy is a cause for joy. Patients who come to GIVF seeking help to become pregnant are elated when they learn that they have achieved pregnancy and our staff is thrilled to help them, Mr. Wise said.

For more information on GIVF and its extraordinary range of programs, visit Genetics and IVF Institute .

Photo Credit: Louise with her parents Lesley and John following her birth at Oldham General Hospital
Photo: PA / Telegraph.co.uk
All Rights Reserved

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TODAY'S BOOK SUGGESTION:
Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition:
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by Toni Weschler

-- For any woman unhappy with her current method of birth control; demoralized by her quest to have a baby; or experiencing confusing symptoms in her cycle, this book provides answers to all these questions, plus amazing insights into a woman's body.

Weschler thoroughly explains the empowering Fertility Awareness Method, which in only a couple minutes a day allows a woman to:
• Enjoy highly effective, scientifically proven birth control without chemicals or devices
• Maximize her chances of conception or expedite fertility treatment by identifying impediments to conception
• Increase the likelihood of choosing the gender of her baby
• Gain control of her sexual and gynecological health

Paperback: 512 pages
Click to order/for more info: Taking Charge of Your Fertility

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Category: Donor Egg, Genes, ICSI, infertility, IVF, pre-implantation genetic screening