30 YEARS SINCE THE FIRST IVF BABY WAS BORN.

The first baby in Spain conceived through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) was born on 12 July 1984 at the Dexeus University Institute in Barcelona. This great event encouraged research and advances in assisted reproduction techniques.

Now, 30 years later, many of the techniques used have improved and have been standardised while most assisted reproduction laboratories have state-of-the-art equipment and follow the same protocols. Moreover, with the passage of time, one of the main changes observed is the profile of patients who use them. Over 40% are now over 40 years old and this entails the consequent difficulty in achieving pregnancy.

To commemorate this landmark, Dr Anna Veiga, who was in charge of that birth, was interviewed on the television programme Els matins de TV3, upon which she explained how assisted reproduction has evolved and what path it would take in the future.