Adelaide IVF pioneer Dr Christine Kirby retires from Repromed after thousands of tiny miracles

A doctor with a special place in the hearts of thousands of South Australian families has called an end to her extraordinary 40-year career.

Dr Christine Kirby holding her granddaughter Aria – who was conceived through IVF overseen by Dr Kirby. Picture: Emma Brasier

After 40 years of bringing joy to the world, Repromed fertility pioneer Dr Christine Kirby is retiring.

Her career has helped thousands of women give birth to children, none more precious than her own granddaughter Aria.

Dr Kirby helped her daughter Katie fall pregnant with Aria thanks to IVF technology, after five gruelling cycles.

She recalls her first glimpse of her only grandchild was through a microscope.

“The first time I saw this Muppet was as an embryo,” she said giving Aria, 3, a cuddle at Repromed’s Dulwich headquarters.

Laura Fotoulis with Alexia and Noah, Dr Christine Kirby holding granddaughter Aria, with Kerin Shearing and Meridee Jensen. Picture: Emma Brasier

In her career she has helped untold numbers of families have children, such as the Shearing triplets Meridee, Kirby and Kerin, now 39 (the latter two named for Dr Kirby and fellow fertility expert the late Professor John Kerin) and Lauren Fotoulis who has given birth to Alexia, 6 and Noah 1, thanks to IVF.

So just how many babies has she helped into the world?

“I stopped counting at 5000 — and that was in the early 2000s,” Dr Kirby said.

“It has been very satisfying, over a long time. I remember really clearly my first egg retrieval with Professor John Kerin in 1982, the twins born on January 6, 1983, were the first live IVF births at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.”

Dr Kirby has seen major changes in fertility technology in her career such as embryo freezing and single sperm injection, and notes Repromed has had a long history of high success rates.

However she added the success figures drop off with age, and has some sage advices for young people.

“My message is to consider your fertility options early, don’t leave it until the last minute — at least talk about it rather than leaving it until you discover you have a problem,” she said.

Dr Kirby retires this month after a career dedicated to developing and providing fertility services to patients across South Australia and the Northern Territory.

The trailblazing obstetrician/gynaecologist has been involved in numerous research projects, was a senior lecturer in obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Adelaide and has trained many specialists in fertility management.

She was the state chair of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, a member of the Reproductive Technology Council of SA and vice president of the Fertility Society of Australia.

She is also an astute businesswoman, co-founding Repromed as a University of Adelaide company in 1987, being part of a management buyout in 2006 and seeing Repromed floated on the ASX in 2014.

Retirement plans including attending car rallies with husband Chris — and spending more time with daughter Katie and granddaughter Aria.