In 1978 Steptoe and Edwards used assisted reproductive technology (IVF) successfully resulting in the birth of Lousie Browne.

Ever since then, this technology has not only helped women conceive in situations where is would not have been possible otherwise but has also laid bare the entire process of reproduction thus helping the scientists to understand the intricacies of this process better.Today, with Lousie giving birth to a child, IVF has become a credible option for family building!

WHO estimates that there are 60 – 80 million such couples all over the world suffering from infertility thereby making this condition an epidemic. Although there are no definite studies from India, it is estimated that 6 – 10% of all Indians are infertile and due to rapid modernization and increasing environmental toxins, the condition is on the rise. In the Indian society childlessness is viewed not just as a medical disorder but a social stigma because Indians marry early, traditionally have a stable family norm and have a desire to produce many children thereby producing an ever increasing demand for all kinds of therapies and interventions. Infertility management has therefore become an integral part of reproductive medicine in the country.