Patrick Christopher Steptoe: the surgeon without which there would be no IVF
https://doi.org/10.17749/2313-7347/ob.gyn.rep.2025.636
Abstract
This article highlights key stages in the life and career of the British surgeon Patrick Christopher Steptoe, who played a key role in the development of assisted reproductive technologies. Having started his career as a laparoscopy specialist, Dr. Steptoe developed minimally invasive methods for retrieving oocytes, which became critical to the success of in vitro fertilization. In collaboration with Robert Edwards, Dr. Steptoe performed the first successful IVF procedure, which in 1978 resulted in the birth of Louise Brown, the world's first test-tube baby. Innovative surgical techniques proposed by Dr. Steptoe laid the foundation for current IVF protocols.
Keywords
history of medicine,
Patrick Christopher Steptoe,
laparoscopy,
in vitro fertilization,
IVF,
infertlity
Supporting agencies: The authors declare no funding
About the Authors
M. G. Gasanov
Sechenov University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Mursal G. Gasanov
8 bldg. 2, Trubetskaya Str., Moscow 119048
R. A. Tuguscheva
Sechenov University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Renata A. Tuguscheva
8 bldg. 2, Trubetskaya Str., Moscow 119048
M. U. Karapetyan
Sechenov University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Mariya U. Karapetyan
8 bldg. 2, Trubetskaya Str., Moscow 119048
A. V. Vorobev
Sechenov University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Alexander V. Vorobev - MD, PhD. Scopus Author ID: 57191966265. Wos ResearcherID: F-8804-2017. eLibrary SPIN-code: 5806-7062.
8 bldg. 2, Trubetskaya Str., Moscow 119048
References
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Review
For citations:
Gasanov M.G., Tuguscheva R.A., Karapetyan M.U., Vorobev A.V. Patrick Christopher Steptoe: the surgeon without which there would be no IVF. Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction. 2025;19(3):453-457. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17749/2313-7347/ob.gyn.rep.2025.636
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