The early history of IVF in Australia and its contribution to the world (1970-1990).

Although Edwards and Steptoe achieved the first IVF pregnancy and birth in 1978, the majority of pioneering developments in IVF during the eighties came from Australia. They included the world's first donor egg pregnancy, the first frozen embryo pregnancy and the first IVF multiple pregnancies. Australia also produced the first national guidelines for IVF practices, the first statute legislation protecting donor gamete pregnancies, and Victoria proclaimed the first statute legislation regarding control of IVF procedures.

Uterine glandular area during the menstrual cycle and the effects of different in-vitro fertilization related hormonal treatments.

The human uterine glandular epithelium undergoes a sequence of well characterized changes during the menstrual cycle that presumably play an important role in preparation for blastocyst implantation. The aim of this study was to measure objectively glandular volume over the entire menstrual cycle and compare the results with eight different clinical superovulation or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) subject groups. Endometrial biopsies were taken from control normal menstrual cycle subjects (n = 96), and eight other smaller groups of women who had received different in-vitro fertilization (IVF) related treatments.

Environment of the preimplantation human embryo in vivo: metabolite analysis of oviduct and uterine fluids and metabolism of cumulus cells.

Objective: To determine the levels of metabolites surrounding the human oocyte and embryo in vivo.

Design: Oviduct and uterine fluids were collected throughout the menstrual cycle. Cumulus cells were collected at oocyte retrieval and their production of metabolites was assessed.

The regulation of assisted reproductive technology in Australia: issues and solutions.

The legislative response to assisted reproduction technology had been inappropriate and inflexible for such a rapidly developing area of medicine. A national system of regulation, consisting of a merger of components of already established committees and based on the United Kingdom system introduced in 1990, would overcome the legislative differences between States, and provide a more responsible and responsive regulatory system.