Tribute to our IVF pioneers

BY SARAH MOYES

"Hey egg, meet the sperm."

Gynaecologist and obstetrician Dr Richard Fisher says in vitro fertilisation, or IVF, isn't creating life, but nurturing it.

"We get all the materials together, and then we nurture that growth," he says.

Dr Fisher and Dr Freddie Graham, also a gynaecologist and obstetrician, brought IVF to New Zealand 27 years ago.

The Remuera and Parnell residents have been made companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the recent New Year honours for services to medicine.

They were both surprised about the honour and believe their successful careers are largely based on good luck.

"We work with wonderful people. We received the honours because of a great team," Dr Fisher says.

IVF is a process where egg cells are fertilised by sperm outside of the womb then placed into the woman's uterus to create a pregnancy.

In 1983 when IVF first began in New Zealand it was a well-kept secret - the hospital board didn't even know.

"In those days when you wanted to do a new treatment you just did it," Dr Graham says. "We had to keep very quiet about it until the first pregnancy."

When the news was announced, attitudes were mixed and IVF was thought of as a controversial treatment. The hospital board was worried about the extra costs and protesters who were against the treatment sat outside the two doctors' homes and National Women's Hospital.

"The first I heard of protesters was when I read in the paper that Richard's letterbox had been bombed," Dr Graham says.

He also had his fair share of protesters.

"I said: 'I don't do abortions any more' and they said: 'But you throw away embryos'."

Within the first year there was a seven-year waiting list for people wanting IVF treatment. To qualify for the treatment back then women had to be in a long-term relationship, but not necessarily married.

"That was a big deal back then," Dr Graham says.

They also had to be under 37 years old, which is less than the median age now.

Dr Graham says it was awful talking to people they couldn't help.

Nowadays, the chances of getting pregnant through IVF are a lot higher.

"It went from an 8 or 9 percent chance to a 50 percent chance of working," he says.

The two doctors agree people get more upset now when it doesn't work because the expectation is so much higher.

They co-founded Fertility Associates, New Zealand's leading provider of fertility diagnoses, support and treatment, in 1987 and recently moved into Ascot Central in Remuera.

"We both intend to be here for quite some time yet," Dr Fisher says.

"It's a very exciting job to be in," Dr Graham says.

"It's still interesting and new things are coming up all the time.

"We really help people, it reflects teamwork and it reflects an area that has been recognised."

- © Fairfax NZ News