Joy: The True Story of IVF- Fact vs. Fiction in Jean Purdy’s Netflix Movie

In the new Netflix movie, Joy: The Birth of IVF, viewers are taken on a journey through the arduous process of developing in vitro fertilization, a groundbreaking technique for fertilizing human eggs outside the body. The film tells the real-life story of gynecologist Patrick Steptoe and physiologist Robert Edwards, who faced financial challenges, hostile media coverage, and opposition from the medical establishment and religion. Together, they worked in a rundown hospital wing with the help of former nurse Jean Purdy, who becomes the heart of the story.

Jean Purdy was a crucial member of the team, playing a key role in preparing cultures, recording data from experiments, and advocating for the 200 women who donated their eggs for the research. The team’s efforts eventually led to the birth of Louise Brown, the world’s first “test-tube baby” in 1978, after years of dedication and hard work.

The movie portrays Purdy facing challenges in her personal life, including tension with her church and her mother due to her involvement in the IVF research. While the specifics of these events are not confirmed, it is true that the research faced backlash from organized religion, particularly the Catholic Church, due to the disposal of fertilized embryos and the procedure not involving conjugal sex.

Another aspect of Purdy’s life depicted in the film is her supposed romantic involvement with a fellow researcher named Arun. According to Barry Bavister, a Ph.D. student of Edwards’, this relationship is most likely fictional, as Purdy was known to be a devout Christian who was saving herself for marriage. Bavister expressed his outrage at the movie’s portrayal of Purdy in this manner, emphasizing her dedication to infertility research.

Overall, Joy: The Birth of IVF offers a glimpse into the real-life challenges and triumphs of the scientists behind a groundbreaking medical advancement that has changed the lives of families around the world. While some details may be dramatized for entertainment purposes, the core of the story remains rooted in the inspiring work of these pioneering individuals.