Remembering Dr. Howard Jones, Pioneer of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Dr. Howard Jones, a gynecological surgeon and in vitro fertilization (IVF) specialist, passed away on July 31, 2015. Dr. Jones, with his wife Georgeanna Seegar Jones, pioneered the field of IVF in the early 1980’s, most specifically in their creation of the program that led to the birth of the first baby born via IVF in the United States in 1981, Elizabeth Jordan Carr.
Chelsea Fertility of NYC remembers the work of Dr. Jones, including his incredible dedication to building families. We are proud to join in the modern family building tradition through our own fertility center, and we work to honor Dr. Jones’ memory through our own dedication to making the dreams of our patients come true.
Undergoing IVF treatment in order to have a baby is recommended in certain situations, such as when another fertility treatment like intrauterine insemination (IUI) is not successful, or if your fertility specialist determines that IVF is the best first step. IVF can be used at a first step when the infertility diagnosis is severe, including in cases of male factor infertility.
Back in 1981, IVF was a completely new concept, and the average person’s understanding of it was incredibly limited. Those who worked on the first in vitro fertilization procedures, including Dr. Jones and his team, experienced considerable public pushback. When Elizabeth Jordan Carr was born using IVF, thanks to Dr. Jones’ work, her birth sent a very important message to every U.S. couple who feared they might never have a child of their own. Medical science was finally capable of successfully creating an embryo in a laboratory and transferring that embryo into a woman’s uterus, resulting in a healthy pregnancy and birth.
Since the birth of Elizabeth Jordan Carr, IVF success rates have improved. With modern techniques and fertility medications, the success of an IVF pregnancy, including reducing the risk of multiples, is remarkable. Now, in 2015, the term “IVF” is commonplace. Education has greatly reduced the stigma that once followed IVF children and infertile couples. However, there is still more work to be done. Infertility affects one in eight American couples, yet it is still not necessarily an understood topic. Chelsea Fertility of New York City has written extensively on IVF treatment, and we invite you to visit some of our most popular blog posts on the subject:
