24 July 2026

Shropshire and Mid-Wales Fertility Centre is marking World IVF Day by reflecting on how its service has helped thousands of people fulfil their dream of having a family.

World IVF Day commemorates the birth of Louise Brown, the world’s first baby conceived through In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), on 25 July 1978.

What was once an experimental treatment has transformed into a highly precise, mainstream field that has brought more than 10 million children into the world globally.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), runs the Shropshire and Mid Wales Fertility Centre, which was founded in 1991, and following decades of scientific advancement is now operating from its state-of-the-art, bespoke facility at the Severn Fields Health Village in Shrewsbury.

The clinic consistently delivers some of the highest fertility success rates across the West Midlands and Wales, supporting both NHS patients and self-funded patients.

Professor Jason Kasraie, Consultant Embryologist and lead healthcare scientist for SaTH, commented on the significance of the day: “World IVF Day is a special day for everyone working in human assisted conception, but it is also celebrated globally as World Embryologist Day.

“It offers a rare opportunity to shine a light on the highly precise, sophisticated science that happens behind the closed doors of our embryology laboratories.”

“When IVF first began, success rates were quite low, often hovering around 10% to 15%.Today, thanks in embryo culture techniques, time-lapse incubator systems, and micro-manipulation techniques like ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection), the chance of pregnancy has grown dramatically.

“We are now able to mimic the environment of the womb more closely than ever before, giving every embryo the best chance we can.”

Professor Kasraie emphasized that while the underlying technology has become incredibly advanced, the core mission of the Shropshire team remains deeply human.

He said: “Our multidisciplinary team of nurses, scientists, doctors and support staff work hard to balance cutting-edge science with a deeply supportive, personal approach to care. We are incredibly proud to have played a part in bringing thousands of babies to families across Shropshire, Mid-Wales, and our surrounding communities over the last 35 years.”

Dr John Jones, Chief Group Medical Officer said: “Behind every success story is a person or couple who have often faced significant challenges on their path to parenthood. World IVF Day is a chance to recognise the hope that fertility treatment can offer and the life-changing impact it has for so many families.

“I would like to thank our teams for the exceptional care they provide and congratulate everyone connected with the Shropshire and Mid-Wales Fertility Centre on the difference they continue to make to patients’ lives.”

You can find out more about the service at www.shropshireivf.nhs.uk.