This week we are celebrating 40 years of IVF in Croatia. 40 years ago, a historic moment happened in Croatia, the first child conceived by in vitro fertilization was born in Zagreb. This event marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey that spanned four decades. Since then, Croatia has made significant strides in the field of reproductive medicine, and IVF has become a path of hope for all couples struggling with infertility.
How did it all begin?
A dedicated team of scientists and doctors, led by prof. Velimir Šimunić, played a key role in the realization of this dream. The birth of the first IVF child in Croatia in 1983 was a revolutionary achievement. The media described the medical conditions at that time as modest and could not measure up to world standards.
How did the development help the couples to achieve their goals?
Over the past 40 years, we have experienced exponential growth in Croatia. We now boast a network of well-equipped infertility clinics staffed by highly qualified medical professionals. These clinics have helped many couples achieve their dreams of parenthood by offering a range of assisted reproductive technologies, in addition to IVF, such as Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), and Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT).
How did the Cito polyclinic become the IVF leader?
Back in 2001, the city of Split also witnessed its historic moment when the first child conceived through IVF was born under the guidance of prim. Boris Poljak and B.Sc was. Anamarija Baranovic. This achievement demonstrated the commitment of Croatian medical professionals to improving reproductive medicine and providing couples with innovative solutions to overcome infertility. Since then, the Cito Polyclinic has twice been declared the leader with the largest number of children born. Since 2006, we have had the most equipped and most successful laboratory fully equipped to perform all methods of in vitro fertilization. We are proud that in our 17 years of existence, our team of experts has helped more than 3,000 couples to realize their dream of parenthood, not only in Croatia but also around the world.
Why is it important to raise awareness about infertility?
It affects a significant part of the world’s population, and Croatia is no exception. The stigma surrounding it often leads couples to suffer in silence, unaware of available treatments and support.
To address this, initiatives and awareness campaigns have been launched to break the silence. One of our experts, Dr. Petar Poljak, talks about the problem of infertility by couples in an article at the following link:
As we reflect on these 40 years of IVF in Croatia, let’s also recognize the importance of raising awareness about infertility and providing support to couples in need. The future holds even more promise as science and medicine continue to advance, offering hope to those on the road to parenthood.
Our team offers consultations as well as treatment, so contact us with confidence, we are here for you!
