Scientists as always looked to nature and studied some aquatic animals who are known to develop the whole process of fertilisation outside female animal body.
In 1965 Dr Edward found for the first time that female egg cell ( oocyte) can be matured outside in Petri dish in buffer solution . By 1969 Dr Edward could develop a technique which successfully allowed spermatozoa to penetrate the oocyte and develop into a Zygote but such zygotes did not multiply beyond 2 cell stage . In order to reach the crucial 8 cell stage of the zygote which alone was capable to enter the endometrium required specific hormones and he could show that when such hormones were provided in adequate amount the much required maturation could be attained.
Till 1960 , in order to get sufficient number of matured oocyte open laparotomy a difficult proposition, was required thus making it a very arduous task. Dr Patrick C Steptoe who had become famous by then for fibre - optic laparoscopic technique , was approached by Dr Edward . With Dr Steptoe utilising his skills of pin hole surgery with added ultrasound support it was possible to pickup only few mature follicles from the ovary very easily and that too pain free and put it into the Petri dish with buffers and mix it with the collected sperm to be fertilised under controlled conditions.
Once the zygote reached the 8 cell blastocyst stage which takes about two and half days, it was possible to implant on hormone prepared endometrium of the uterus where it stays to multiply and differentiate into a healthy embryo. Male contribution in failed fertility is almost fifty percent and the most important cause is the inadequate number of quality sperm.
The recent technique known as Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Inoculation ( ICSI) needs just a single healthy mature spermatozoa (singular - spermetazoon) which is made to penetrate the oocyte ( egg cell) and thus providing comprehensive solution to the much vexed problem of male infertility with very high success rate .
Dr Edward’s work on human embryonic cells in the process to perfect IVF has significantly advanced the knowledge in the field of embryonic stem cell research and regenerative medicine in addition.
When to ask for IVF Help?
Needless to say that pregnancy is natural to all human however if any healthy adult couple desirous of raising family fails to conceive in six months after the age of 35 and one year after the age of 30 ,is a candidate for consultation for infertility.
Increasing age, obesity, smoking and alcohol abuse are well known relative causes for infertility in either sex. Additionally undescended and underdeveloped testis, low male hormone - testosterone and structural defects in the duct carrying the sperm to the urethral opening are additional causes.
Females may have poly-cystic disease of ovary with irregular menstruation, endometriosis and rarely ovarian failure as cause in addition to the above mentioned common causes. Successful solution to infertility will all above factors in mind to address the problem of infertility. It is also prudent to caution that there has been mushroom growth of fake or poorly qualified centers offering assisted fertility services like IVF and therefore diligent search for competence is extremely important to get the real benefit of this scientific wonder.
The writer is former Professor and Head of Medicine, RIMS, Ranchi, Jharkhand.