The White Orchid Day: IVF babies celebrate their holiday

Recognized by European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, the IVF Baby Day is observed on the first Sunday of April.

An orchid is the world’s only flower that reproduces through assisted reproductive technologies, which explains the name of the holiday. Whereas the birth of the first IVF baby, Louise Brown, is celebrated in Great Britain by embryologists and specialists in reproductive medicine, “The White Orchid Day” is intended for long-awaited children that would never have been born but for contemporary medical technologies.

Traditionally, families bring white orchids on the “Test-tube Baby” Day. The idea of this holiday has sparkled keen interest worldwide. This is a good opportunity to raise and discuss a myriad of ethical, religious and social issues of assisted reproductive technologies.

Annually up to 50 thousand babies are NOT born due to infertility of couples. Every fifth young family requires the assistance of a specialist-reproductologist. The drama of one couple has long escalated into the tragedy on the national level: the population of Ukraine has decreased by 8 million within the last 10 years.

Genesis Dnepr IVF has already been dealing with infertility treatment for many years. The overall number of babies born by virtue of the expertise and efforts of its reproductologists is over a thousand. This number increases every passing year with 150-200 people.

Since 1987 more than 7 million babies have been born worldwide due to the assisted reproductive technologies. With the numbers growing, IVF looks to give many couples brighter, family-filled futures. And “The White Orchid Day” let us think over upcoming future today.