These days IVF is so commonplace, it’s hard to imagine a time without it. But this year marks 36 years since the birth of Australia’s first IVF baby, and also a significant milestone in IVF history.

When Candice Reed was born 36 years ago, she became our country’s first IVF baby, and only the third in the world.

Now comes the news that since then more than 200,000 children have been born in Australia and New Zealand as a result of IVF.

That’s the equivalent of the population of Hobart – and that’s a lot of happy families.

The statistic comes from data collected by the Australian and New Zealand Assisted Reproduction Database.

It is estimated that, based on the latest birth rate figures being two children per family, the 200,000 people born from IVF are likely to have 400,000 of their own children over the next two decades.

Congratulations to all the IVF doctors and staff who have made so many people so happy over the last 36 years.