Until the middle of the 1970's, artificial insemination was the only method available to help childless couples. The technique was pioneered around the end of World War II. During the 70's, scientists began to develop a completely new type of treatment for infertility: IVF (see the treatment in a nutshell).

Two countries in particular played a fundamental part in its development: Australia and the UK. Four men are regarded as the founding fathers: Australians Alan Trounson and Carl Wood and Englishmen Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards.

Ultimately, it were the Englishmen who were able to create the first test tube baby in the world. She was Louise Brown and was born in 1978 after her parents were treated by Steptoe and Edwards. Incidentally, her younger sister Natalie, was the first IVF child to become a mother herself (via natural methods!).