Netflix released its film “Joy The Birth of IVF,” on Nov. 22, 2024. The movie follows three British medical professionals—Robert Edwards (James Norton), Patrick Steptoe (Bill Nighy) and Jean Purdy (Thomasin McKenzie). It portrays the emotionally resilient journey of a scientist, nurse, and doctor in trying to create the first successful IVF baby.
IVF stands for in vitro fertilization, which was developed over nearly two decades; from the late 1950s to 1978. The process was long and challenging.
As the film depicts the first successful IVF procedure occurred at Oldham Hospital in Manchester, England.
Throughout the process of this record-breaking medical discovery, the three faced constant societal backlash, a struggle portrayed in the movie.
In the 1970s, infertility was an issue that carried significant stigma. Creating life outside the human body was met with grief and widespread backlash.
There were difficulties as they struggled to secure funding and faced skepticism from the scientific community. Much of their work was done in an outdated, under-resourced lab.
IVF aims to fertilize an egg outside the womb, offering hope to couples unable to conceive naturally.
The movie depicts the emotional journey of families hoping to have children and the researchers working to make IVF possible. It shows the struggles of couples dealing with infertility and their desire for a child.
A personal element in the movie is Purdy’s struggle with endometriosis, which, unfortunately, made it impossible for her to conceive, even with IVF. Despite this, Purdy develops personal relationships with the women undergoing IVF treatment, forming a supportive bond with them. These women often referred to themselves as the “Oldham Club.”
Despite challenges and a brief break, the team persevered, leading to the birth of Louise Brown in 1978. Brown was the world’s first IVF baby, marking a pivotal moment in reproductive medicine.
Once IVF was officially deemed successful, a plaque was created outside Kershaw Hospital in Oldham to commemorate Steptoe and Edwards. However, Purdy’s name was left off the plaque, highlighting how women often remain “silent heroes” in history, despite their crucial contributions.
If it hadn’t been for Edwards, who campaigned for Purdy’s name to be included, she might have remained overlooked. However, when a new plaque was created in 2015, Purdy’s name was finally added.
Edwards, the only surviving member of the three, was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2010 for his contributions to discovering IVF.
Since these discoveries were made, an estimated 12 million IVF babies have been born worldwide.
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