From Ancient Remedies to IVF: A Brief History of Fertility Medicine.

Ever wondered how far we’ve come in the world of women’s reproductive health? Today’s fertility clinics are technology hubs of possibility—but the path to get here is lined with surprising stories, strange rituals, and pioneering breakthroughs that changed lives. This is a journey through time, revealing how obstetrics, gynaecology, and fertility medicine evolved into the science-backed, compassionate specialty it is today.

Ancient wisdom and whispered secrets

In ancient Egypt around 1800 BCE, one of the earliest medical texts—the Kahun Gynecological Papyrus—outlined fertility treatments ranging from vaginal fumigations to mixtures of crocodile dung and honey (Nunn, 2002). While these practices sound alarming now, they reflect early attempts to address infertility and menstrual disorders using the knowledge available at the time.

Greek physician Hippocrates, often called the father of medicine, introduced the theory of the “wandering womb,” believing the uterus could move about the body and cause various symptoms—a notion that shaped women’s health for centuries (King, 1998). These ancient misconceptions show just how much our understanding has evolved.
(Further reading, Wandering wombs and hysteria: the tortuous history of women and pain.)

Renaissance revelations and a male medical gaze

The Renaissance brought anatomical breakthroughs. In the 16th century, Realdo Colombo dissected a pregnant uterus, describing the placenta and fetal development—vital steps in understanding obstetrics (O’Dowd & Philipp, 2000).

Yet despite scientific progress, childbirth remained dangerous. In the 19th century, Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis discovered that handwashing among doctors reduced maternal deaths due to puerperal fever. His work, however, was dismissed at the time—largely because it challenged existing norms (Hanninen et al., 1983). It would take decades before this lifesaving practice became standard.

20th-century transformation: hormones, pills and petri dishes

The 20th century was revolutionary. The discovery of female sex hormones in the 1920s and the release of the oral contraceptive pill in 1960 marked a turning point for reproductive autonomy (Marks, 2001).

The biggest fertility breakthrough came in 1978, when British doctors Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe achieved the world’s first successful in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) with the birth of Louise Brown (Edwards & Steptoe, 1980). IVF had arrived—and the world was watching. (Further watching, Joy on Netflix.)

Australia wasn’t far behind. In 1980, Candice Reed became the first IVF baby born in Australia, placing the country at the forefront of assisted reproductive technology (Thomson et al., 1985). Today, over 20,000 babies are born each year in Australia via IVF and other ARTs (AIHW, 2023).

Fertility medicine today: blending science with soul

Modern fertility specialists represent a blend of medical innovation and human connection. Techniques like embryo grading—first standardised by Professor David Gardner through his “Gardner Grade” system—help clinics choose embryos most likely to result in pregnancy, improving success rates while reducing the number of embryos transferred (Gardner et al., 2000).

Importantly, today’s fertility care is more inclusive and emotionally intelligent than ever before. Clinics now support LGBTQIA+ families, solo parents, and culturally diverse communities—something that wasn’t part of mainstream care even 20 years ago.

Real stories, real impact

Shows like Big Miracles (Nine Network) capture this evolving landscape beautifully. One in six Australian couples faces infertility (AIHW, 2023). Whether it’s Angie Kent, managing PCOS and PMDD while choosing solo IVF, or Sheila and Tyson, navigating seven rounds of failed treatment before success with donor eggs—their stories are honest, complex, and full of hope (Nine Network, 2025).

These stories aren’t outliers. They’re reflections of the real journeys people take every day—and a reminder that fertility medicine is as much about human spirit as it is about science.

Looking forward

The future of OB/GYN and fertility medicine is thrilling. From artificial intelligence in embryo selection to fertility preservation options for people with cancer or delayed parenthood goals, the field continues to push boundaries. And as science advances, so does our capacity to offer support—not just medical, but emotional and inclusive.

What began with herbal mixtures and mysticism has evolved into personalised, precise medicine. But through every era, the goal has remained constant: to support the creation of life, and the people dreaming of it.

References

AIHW. (2023). Assisted reproductive technology in Australia and New Zealand 2021. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/mothers-babies/assisted-reproductive-technology-2021

Edwards, R. G., & Steptoe, P. C. (1980). Birth after the reimplantation of a human embryo. Lancet, 316(8085), 366. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(80)90836-0

Gardner, D. K., Lane, M., Stevens, J., Schlenker, T., & Schoolcraft, W. B. (2000). Blastocyst score affects implantation and pregnancy outcome: Towards a single blastocyst transfer. Fertility and Sterility, 73(6), 1155–1158. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0015-0282(00)00518-5

Hanninen, O., Farago, M., & Monos, E. (1983). Ignaz Phillip Semmelweis, the prophet of bacteriology. Infection Control, 4(5), 367–370. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0195941700064205

King, H. (1998). Hippocrates’ Woman: Reading the Female Body in Ancient Greece. Routledge.

Marks, L. (2001). Sexual Chemistry: A History of the Contraceptive Pill. Yale University Press.

Nine Network. (2025). Big Miracles Season 3 Media Kit. [PDF].

Nunn, J. F. (2002). Ancient Egyptian Medicine. University of Oklahoma Press.

O’Dowd, M. J., & Philipp, E. E. (2000). The History of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. CRC Press.

Thomson, J. A., Trounson, A. O., & Wood, C. (1985). The first pregnancy established in Australia by in vitro fertilisation. Medical Journal of Australia, 142(1), 4–6.