In search of Jean Purdy: unsung woman and pioneer of IVF who begins to gain recognition, thanks in part to a Netflix feature film

The British embryologist’s work has been consistently overlooked in our male-dominated scientific ecosystem – but her story is beginning to be told.

Jean Purdy (1945–1985) is a central, yet still under-recognised figure in the history of reproductive medicine who has not received the proper attention for the groundbreaking contributions that she made to the development of in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Purdy’s work was significant in establishing the science of IVF and to the eventual live birth of the world’s first ‘test-tube baby’, Louise Brown, in 1978. In the nearly 50 years since then, the use of IVF technology has made possible the births of more than 10 million children worldwide.

Overlooked by in favour of her male colleagues when the accolades started rolling in, Purdy was a nurse and a pioneer in the emerging field of embryology.

Born in Cambridge she trained in nursing at Addenbrooke's Hospital in her hometown of Cambridge, England before developing her career in laboratory work and then transitioning into empirical research.

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Purdy’s scientific path took a decisive turn in 1968 when she started to work with Dr Robert Edwards, a physiologist at the University of Cambridge, whose primary focus of study was the biology of fertilisation, a field of study which laid the groundwork for what later allowed for success in assisted reproductive technology and IVF. Fundamentally, Purdy shared his compassionate vision of addressing infertility through scientific innovation.

The core IVF team became complete when Edwards and Purdy persuaded Dr Patrick Steptoe, a gynaecologist and laparoscopic surgeon, who was working at a general hospital in Oldham, Greater Manchester, to join them in offering their novel techniques as a therapy to childless volunteer parents.

At this time in the late 1960s, Steptoe’s laparoscopic surgery was a new but marginalised technique, widely frowned upon by the British medical establishment with some condemning it as dangerous and an unnecessary risk to patient safety.

Steptoe’s surgical skills allowed for the retrieval of oocytes (eggs) from the ovaries, which as a minimally invasive surgical procedure became an essential step in the successful development of IVF.

Often now referred to as ‘keyhole surgery’ it has become a mainstay of modern abdominal surgery.

Similarly, when Purdy began her work in the field IVF it was still a nascent and controversial concept, facing much scepticism – and in some corners of society a fierce moral backlash – from the medical community, religious groups and others in British public life. This uncharted scientific path provoked questions of what was possible for God as much as what was possible for man- and womankind.

But as Edwards and Steptoe focused on the clinical aspects and theoretical foundations, Purdy brought her meticulousness and ingenuity to the laboratory, innovating methods that allowed for the successful cultivation of human embryos outside the body. Together, the trio embarked on the challenging journey to overcome one of the most formidable scientific and technical barriers of the time.

Foremost among Purdy’s roles involved the meticulous handling of human eggs and embryos, a task that required extraordinary precision, patience and a deep understanding of embryonic development. At this time, the available technology was rudimentary, by comparison with contemporary devices, and the eventual success of IVF depended on her relentless experimentation and innovation.

In particular, Purdy introduced technical innovations for the handling and manipulation of gametes and embryos. Early IVF procedures were hindered by limitations in micro-manipulation techniques, including the quality and standards of available pipettes and microscopes to handle delicate biological material. Purdy played an instrumental role in refining the equipment with her modifications to pipette design, improving the precision and safety of both oocyte retrieval and then embryo transfer – critical steps for IVF success.

Purdy’s work was also central to optimising the laboratory conditions required first for the process of fertilisation and then for the embryo’s early period of growth, building on Edwards’ work in animal models to refine the ‘culture media’, the nutrients in solution which are used to support embryonic life outside the human body. One of her key breakthroughs was refining the steps necessary to maintain the delicate balance of pH, temperature, ion concentration and osmolarity in the culture media which could create an environment conducive to the embryos. With the precision of a chemist and the insight of a biologist, she devised experimental protocols that improved embryonic survival rates.

Another significant technical contribution was Purdy’s pioneering work in the time-lapse observation of embryos. She developed methods to monitor and document the early stages of cell division which enabled the team to identify which were the viable embryos that would become the best candidates for transfer back into the womb.

These innovations provided critical insights into embryonic behaviour and improved the team’s ability to predict successful implantation. Her photographic documentation and meticulous records were invaluable in defining the parameters that influenced embryo viability.

Similarly, Purdy also developed successful cryopreservation techniques for both eggs and embryos. Cryopreservation – the process of freezing biological material to extremely low temperatures – was a groundbreaking concept in the 1970s. It allowed for embryos to be stored for future use, reducing the need for repeated egg retrieval procedures being conducted through additional laparoscopic surgeries.

Purdy’s experimentation of various freezing protocols and use of cryoprotectant chemicals discovered optimal methods to minimise cellular damage during both freezing and thawing. These efforts remain the underpinning of modern practices in cryopreservation and are the gold standard in fertility clinics everywhere.

Working primarily from Cambridge, Purdy and Edwards would however regularly drive the hundreds of miles to Steptoe’s clinic in Oldham, Greater Manchester to work away from home for many days at a time with their volunteer cohorts.

In the clinic, her nursing background gave her an important perspective in ensuring patient care which become increasingly important as the IVF project – and its ever-hopeful parent participants – would experience many years of failure.

In 1980, Purdy was instrumental in the establishment of Bourn Hall, located in Cambridge, which became the world’s first dedicated IVF clinic. Purdy’s vision shaped the clinic’s practice and ensured that its scientific rigour was equally matched by compassion in patient care. Her work at Bourn Hall helped to solidify the clinical application of IVF, transforming it from an experimental procedure into a standard medical practice.

Purdy’s work has become a cornerstone of modern embryology and reproductive health. Her story should be heard more widely and Purdy should be recognised as a significant woman in science.

While Edwards and Steptoe received widespread public recognition – including Edwards receiving the 2010 Nobel Prize for Medicine – Purdy’s name has been notably absent from many accounts of the team’s work.

This may be a result of the fact that her death in 1985 from a malignant melanoma at only 39 years old automatically debarred her from recognition in this Nobel Prize, as Nobel Foundation’s policy does not permit the prize to be given posthumously. But perhaps worse, Purdy’s early death meant that she did not live to witness the widespread adoption of IVF and its positively transformative impact on millions of families around the world.

In later years, Edwards better acknowledged Purdy’s significance, describing her as the ‘third member of the team’ and emphasising her central contribution to the success of IVF.

Purdy's contribution extends beyond her direct involvement in the birth of Louise Brown. She established the ethical and procedural standards that continue to guide IVF practices today. Her story is a testament to the power of collaboration in science, underscoring the importance of recognising the contributions of all team members, regardless of gender or visibility. Purdy exemplified the transformative potential of interdisciplinary collaboration.

This marginalisation of Purdy’s legacy is indicative of a broad trend in the history of science, where women’s contributions have frequently been overshadowed or omitted. However, in recent years, there has been a growing recognition of Purdy’s impact. Historians and advocates have called for greater acknowledgment of her work.

And today, efforts to honour Purdy’s legacy have gained momentum. Historians and scientists alike have highlighted her work as an embryologist and her technical innovations, emphasising the critical role she played in IVF’s eventual success. In 2015, a plaque was unveiled at Bourn Hall to honour her memory and associate her name with the place where IVF, and its legacy, was established.

In 2018, the Science Museum in London put on a retrospective exhibition entitled ‘6 Million Babies Later’, which described Purdy as: “a central figure in the development of IVF and yet she is rarely remembered.” Indeed, it recounts just how important Purdy was to the work in Oldham by noting that the team had to cease operations for several months while Purdy cared for her dying mother.

And in 2024, Netflix made a feature film called ‘Joy’ which told the story of the development of IVF with Purdy – played by New Zealand actor Thomasin McKenzie – emphatically written as the central character of the narrative. As the film’s marketing material said: “The film celebrates the power of perseverance and the wonders of science as it follows this maverick trio of visionaries who overcame tremendous odds and opposition to realise their dream, and in doing so, allowed millions of people to dream with them.”

Jean Purdy’s story reminds us that innovation is often the result of a collective effort, with each team member’s contributions playing a significant role. By acknowledging and celebrating the achievements of all contributors, we can foster a fairer, inclusive and equitable scientific community.

—By Alan Booth

Further reading:

• The Oldham Notebooks: an analysis of the development of IVF 1969-1978. The role of Jean Purdy reassessed – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28299364/
• Jean Purdy: Plaque will honour 'snubbed' IVF pioneer – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-48908916
• Jean Purdy – the forgotten IVF pioneer – https://blog.sciencemuseum.org.uk/jean-purdy-the-forgotten-ivf-pioneer/