In 1977, I can vaguely remember hearing about Louise Brown. I wasn't very old and didn't understand what it all meant but wondered why someone made the news.
Her name, of course, has come to mean so much more. She is a sign of hope for many women who wish to be a mother and a benchmark for science.
One of the focus areas of this year’s National Fertility Awareness Week 30 Oct – 5 Nov is commemorating 40 years since 10 November 1977, when Louise Joy Brown was conceived. As part of this, NFUK are asking patients and professionals to send them their #IVFis40 memories from the last four decades. You can send in a photo and/or words.
The aim is to represent everyone who has faced fertility struggles, including couples who were not successful. One thing they want to stress is that even after 40 years, IVF is unsuccessful more often than not, and they want to hear how IVF and fertility struggles have affected those for who it did not work.
I think that's important because media reports give the impression that it's almost always successful and anything we can do as a community to bust a few myths has to be good for the next generation.
If you want to get involved then memories (both positive and negative) should be sent to media@fertilitynetworkuk.org The memories can be personal ones, or related to IVF milestones, or whatever is most striking for the individual about 40 years of IVF. Responses will be posted on the awareness week website www.nfaw.org.uk and shared on social media; they can be anonymous.
If you'd like to share your thoughts with a feet photo on our growing gallery, I'd be very happy to do that too.
