Latest
Fact Check: Donald Trump claims “I’m the father of IVF” at a Fox News Townhall
The title of the true pioneer in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) belongs to Sir Robert Edwards, a British physiologist
Author
CLAIM
US presidential candidate Donald Trump says "I'm the father of IVF"
FACT
IVF was developed by British scientists Sir Robert Edwards, Patrick Steptoe, and Jean Purdy, leading to the first IVF baby in 1978
Former United States President and now Presidential Candidate, Donald Trump, recently claimed that he was the "father" in vitro fertilization.
The comments came up during a town hall, moderated by Fox News' Harris Faulkner. Trump, before an audience member asked him about the fate of IVF treatments in light of the ban on abortion in multiple states of the country, repeatedly said "I'm the father of IVF."
The former President's comments can be heard here, at around 38:45.
President Trump's town hall with @HARRISFAULKNER: pic.twitter.com/fcHVujJ35a
— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) October 16, 2024
Since then, the clips of the event have gone viral on social media sites, causing an uproar within the scientific community at large.
Though it is unclear what Trump meant, when he called himself the 'father' of the fertility treatment, the title of the true pioneer in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) belongs to Sir Robert Edwards, a British physiologist who, along with obstetrician Patrick Steptoe and embryologist Jean Purdy, developed the technique that led to the birth of the first IVF baby, Louise Brown, in 1978.
Edwards dedicated nearly two decades to refining the IVF process, overcoming significant opposition from the scientific community and ethical concerns surrounding reproductive technologies. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2010.
The "father of IVF," Robert Edwards, is celebrated not just for his scientific achievements but also for his commitment to helping couples realize their dreams of parenthood. His legacy continues through the millions of children (current estimates are 12 million) born as a result of IVF technology.
Also read: FACT CHECK: Should you avoid caffeine completely when trying to conceive? - First Check
Do you have a health-related claim that you would like us to fact-check? Send it to us, and we will fact-check it for you!. You can send it on WhatsApp at +91-9311223141, mail us at hello@firstcheck.in, or click here to submit it online.
