History of In-Vitro Fertilization

History of In-Vitro Fertilization

Period: Jan 1, 1840 to Dec 31, 2000

Discovery of Conception

Jan 1, 1843

Scientists discover that conception starts when sperm enters an ovum.

Beginnings of Artifical Insemination

Jan 1, 1855

The Woman's Hospital in New York opens. Its main doctor J. Marion Sims begins using artificial insemination. He tries this 55 times in 2 years with only 1 succesful pregnancy which later ends in miscarriage.

First Succesful Artificial Insemination

Jan 1, 1884

William Pancoast injects a woman with donated sperm while she is under anestesia. She gives birth nine months later.

Infertility Doctor John Rock is born

Mar 24, 1890

Criticism of Artificial Insemination

Jan 1, 1909

Pancoast's actions were published in the Medical World Journal 25 years after it took place. Strongly Criticized for his actions.

Landrum Shettles is born

Nov 21, 1909

Howard Jones is Born

Dec 30, 1910

Georgeanna Jones is Born

Jul 6, 1912

Gregory Pincus Rabbit IVF

Jan 1, 1934

Harvard scientist conducts reasearch using rabbits. Claims it is possible in humans as well. He's denounced for his work and is denied tenure.

First tests with IVF

Jan 1, 1937

John Rock attempts IVF with humans

Results of Testing

Nov 1, 1944

Rock collected over 800 ova and tried unsuccesfully to fertilize 138 of them. Later he was able to fertilize four of the ova. The fertilized eggs were never attempted to implant.

Pope Pius Xii Condemns Fertilization Outside the Human Body

Jan 1, 1949

Landrum Shettles begins to Duplicate Rock's Methods in New York

Jan 1, 1951

First Court Case of Artificial Insemination

Dec 13, 1954

An Illonois Court rules that babies conceived through Artificial Insemination by Doctor are illegitimate.

Shettles published Ovum Humanum

Jan 1, 1960

Book contaning more than 1,000 pictures of human eggs developing.

False Success Claims

Jan 1, 1961

Daniele Petrucci Claimed that he succefully fertilized 40 eggs and had grown one embryo for 29 to th epoint it developed a heartbeat before he had it destoryed. His claims are never proved, but the Vatican denounces his experiment as sacrilegious.

HIH Grants Standards

Jan 1, 1966

The National Institute of Health sets standards for all research performed by its grantees. Also grantees are required to sign letters pledging to to abide by all guidelines including in research thats not funded by the grant.

Pope Paul VI issuses Humane Veritae

Jul 25, 1968

While the encyclical doesn't mention IVF its principles would seem to forbid external fertilization.

The Del-Zio Experiment

Sep 12, 1973

Shettles works with John and Doris Del-Zio in an attempt to implant fertilized eggs. They succesfully fertilize an egg, but the experiment is confiscated by the chairman. The test tube is ruined and the experiment fails. Shettles is strongly advised to resign.

First successful IVF pregnancy

Jan 1, 1975

Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe succesfully implant a fertilized egg, but places it in the fallopian tubes and the egg dies.

First Succesful Sustained Pregnancy

Nov 1, 1976

Lesley Brown and her husband meet with Steptoe. Steptoe hints at IVF without explaining all the details. A year later a fertilized embryo is implanted in Lesley and she is found pregnant in December.

Del-Zio Lawsuit

Jul 17, 1978

Trial goes to Manhattan.

The Verdict for Del-Zio

Aug 18, 1978

After 13 hours the Del-Zios were awarded $50,003. Only $3 was awarded for John's damages.

The First IVF Birth

Oct 9, 1978

At 11:47pm Lesley delivered Louise Joy Brown by C-section. She is the world's first test tube baby.

Second Test-tube baby

Jan 4, 1979

Alastair MacDonald is England's second test-tube baby born and first boy.

Approval of IVF in the U.S.

Mar 1, 1979

After 11 public meetings, teh Ethics Advisory Board approves federal funding of IVF research.

First American IVF Clinic

Mar 1, 1980

Howard and Gerogeanne Jones's IVF clinic at Eastern Virginia Medical School recieves regulatory approval from the state of Virginia.

The Clinic's results

Mar 1, 1980

The clinic opened it's doors on March 1st and tried 23 times to implant fertilized eggs. All failed.

First Success of Jones Clinic

Apr 17, 1981

Judy Carr becomes Jones first patient to become pregenat with the fertilized eggs.

First American IVF Baby

Dec 28, 1981

Elizabeth Jordan Carr is born by C-section.

Vatican Condemnation Of IVF

Jan 1, 1982

The Vatican Radio condemns IVF as immoral, yet public opinion has turned to favor INF and 6 more clinics have opened.

Vatican's Official Statement Opposing IVF

Oct 9, 1987

The vatican released an official statement opposing IVF.