IVF has come a long way since the first ‘test tube baby’ (Louise Joy Brown) was born on July 25, 1978.
According to figures released today, over five million babies have been born by In-Vitro Fertilisation since it was first used 36 years ago.
And it’s not just everyday couples who undergo fertility treatment after struggling to conceive - high-profile celebrities chose to use IVF to become parents too.
Take a look at these famous faces who have spoken out about their fertility problems and IVF journeys...
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Celine Dion
Singer Celine tried for six years before conceiving her eldest son, Rene-Charles in 2001. She then battled on to have twi sons Eddy and Nelson in 2010 after another six failed rounds of IVF.
"<a href="http://mommyish.com/pregnancy-health/unbearable-celebrities-who-speak-out-for-ivf-807/gallery-page/9/" target="_hplink"><strong>These treatments were truly hard on my wife's body. It wasn't simple at all</strong></a>," Celine's husband Rene said at the time.
Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields spoke out about her struggle to conceive when it took six rounds of fertility treatment until she fell pregnant with her eldest daughter, Rowan.
"<a href="http://mommyish.com/pregnancy-health/unbearable-celebrities-who-speak-out-for-ivf-807/#ixzz1zSjQwjCJ" target="_hplink"><strong>The difficulty of IVF or of any fertility issues is the hope and the shattered hope, the dream that it might happen this time and then it doesn't happen</strong></a>."
Courteney Cox
Actress Courteney and then husband David Arquette conceived their daughter Coco after IVF following several miscarriages.
"<a href="http://www.gurgle.com/news/celebrity-parents/rod-stewart-and-penny-lancaster-and-other-celebrities-who-used-ivf-to-conceive/2315" target="_hplink"><strong>In vitro is a wonderful thing that people can do in this day and age, and I'm lucky enough to be able to afford it</strong></a>."
Emma Thompson
Actress Emma Thompson gave birth to daughter Gaia in 1999, thanks to IVF. Emma and husband Greg Wise later adopted Rawndan refugee, Tindy.
<strong>"<a href="http://www.parentdish.co.uk/celebrity/famous-parents-who-struggled-to-conceive-ivf-adoption-fertility/#photo-13" target="_hplink">There's been an awful a lot of grief to get through in not being able to get pregnant again, but there are thousands and thousands of women like me who can't have children</a>."</strong>
Gabby Logan
Sports presenter Gabby and husband Kenny conceived twin sons Lois and Reuben via IVF after a three year fertility battle.
<strong>"<a href="http://www.gurgle.com/news/celebrity-parents/rod-stewart-and-penny-lancaster-and-other-celebrities-who-used-ivf-to-conceive/2315" target="_hplink">We are both positive people so we didn't really get down when nothing happened. Every month, when I realised I wasn't pregnant, I'd think, 'Oh well. next month will be fine'. Sometimes I'd have a couple of days of feeling defeated, but I soon moved on</a>."</strong>
Penny Lancaster
Rod Stewart's wife Penny tried for two years to conceive their second son Aiden. Penny fell pregnant after trying procedures in both the UK and the US.
"<a href="http://www.parentdish.co.uk/celebrity/famous-parents-who-struggled-to-conceive-ivf-adoption-fertility/#photo-16" target="_hplink"><strong>IVF can be stressful, especially for the women with all the hormone injections and procedures</strong></a>."
Jane Seymour
Actress Jane Seymour wrote a book about her fertility struggles, called, <em>Two at a Time: The Journey Through Pregnancy and Birth</em>.
Marcia Cross
Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross started IVF soon after her marriage, and successfully conceived twins, Eden and Savannah. Marcia, as an actress on a high-rated show, acknowledged the high cost of IVF, telling <em>USA Today</em>, "<a href="http://www.gurgle.com/news/celebrity-parents/rod-stewart-and-penny-lancaster-and-other-celebrities-who-used-ivf-to-conceive/2315" target="_hplink"><strong>it's very expensive and (requires) a lot of needles and shots</strong></a>."
The Huffington Post UK | By Kyrsty Hazell Posted: 02/07/2012 12:53 Updated: 02/07/2012 17:15