Modern medics pay tribute to Oldham nurse's fertility miracle
Date published: 08 July 2025
Women’s health campaigner Dr Anita Sharma
Today’s women doctors have paid tribute to a former Oldham nurse whose pioneering work in 1979 has meant that over 21,000 babies per year are now born to parents who thought they were infertile.
Speaking at the close of Infertility Month, Drs Anita Sharma and Karolina Palinska-Rudzka claimed Royal Oldham Hospital nurse Jean Purdy’s work pioneering IVF treatment was “one of the most important events in medical history.”
But they warned that there were women – particularly with some forms of endometriosis – for whom having a child, even with fertility treatment, was impossible.
“Jean Purdy’s miracle has enabled women with conditions like endo to have a child” revealed Dr Sharma, “but they are still 12% less likely to achieve a successful pregnancy than mums who don’t have the condition.
"It is difficult enough to seek help because you believe you cannot have a child due to endo.
"But to then have IVF and still not give birth must be heart-breaking.”
The former South Chadderton GP created her charity Endometriosis Awareness North to battle a blight that affects one-in-ten women.
“Endometriosis is a painful pelvic condition so wearing that it also results in sufferers having suicidal thoughts,” continued Dr Sharma, “and yet the treatment of it is almost the same as when Jean Purdy helped deliver the world’s first test tube baby in the late 1970’s.”
Manchester University Hospitals’ Consultant Gynaecologist Dr Karolina Palinska-Rudzka, who addressed guests at one of Dr Sharma’s free endo webinars recently, said: “Not enough funding has been put into research into endometriosis and fertility.
"Realising it has such a profound effect, almost 10% of all patients given IVF have endometriosis.
"I applaud what Dr Anita, and her charity are doing from Oldham.
"Sometimes they seem like a lone voice for what is such an important issue.”
One of the treatments for endometriosis is a hysterectomy and many women with endo rush to conceive before this.
One of the fortunate mums is the charity’s ambassador Lucy Bowker, who added: “One of the few things people know about endo is that it can result in you not having children.
"Faced with having a hysterectomy, the clock is ticking, and it is just added pressure for those of us with the condition.”
World Infertility Month provides priceless information and support for those trying to conceive.
Our two doctors and Lucy are determined this year to put the achievements of Jean Purdy and the then team at the Royal Oldham in the spotlight – for creating such hope for childless parents.
“Yes, we are extremely proud that an Oldham nurse played such a part, and relieved that this has finally been acknowledged by the hospital in the form of a plaque!” concluded Dr Sharma.
“From what I know of her life, I bet this female health pioneer would have been delighted that so many children have been born via IVF since test tube baby Louise Brown came into the world.
"I also strongly suspect that she would be turning her attentions to issues such as endo if she were still alive now!”
For more on Endometriosis Awareness North, please click here
Money donated to the charity goes directly into research on the condition and support for sufferers and their families.
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