Fun Facts About IVF

(Yes, fun. Or at least interesting.)

IVF is heavy. It’s emotional, expensive, exhausting, and often overwhelming. But along the way, you start learning things you never expected to know. Some of them are strange. Some are fascinating. Some are oddly comforting. So here are a few facts about IVF that surprised me.

IVF has been around longer than you think.

The first IVF baby was born in 1978. Which means IVF is not new, experimental, or some futuristic science project. Millions of people walking around right now exist because of it.

The World’s Oldest Mother Was 74

The world’s oldest recorded mother gave birth at age 74 after conceiving through IVF using donor eggs. She carried twins and delivered by cesarean section.

Human Eggs Actually Hatch

Yes, it’s real. Human embryos hatch. Biology is weirder than most of us realize.

Millions Born

Over 8 million babies have been born globally with the help of IVF

Embryos can survive being frozen for decades.

Healthy babies have been born from embryos frozen for over 20 years.

You’re born with all the eggs you’ll ever have.

Unlike sperm, eggs don’t regenerate. IVF works with what’s already there.

Embryos can self correct.

Some embryos with minor chromosomal issues can still result in healthy pregnancies.

Human eggs are the only cells visible to the unaided eye.

It's the largest cell in the human body. At about 0.1mm, it's just large enough to be seen with the naked eye!