One very significant part of the continuous successes in fertility medicine is played by modern hormone preparations. Modern production technology, as well as ensuring the preparation’s high degree of purity, also offers significant advantages for use: “One breakthrough was the development of the small, automated injection devices for hormones”, explains Howles, “since they not only do away with the rather unpopular injection process, but they also ensure that the precise dose of the preparation is always administered.”

It is often the small advances that make the biggest difference: a new method of administration, for instance, or longer availability of the preparation in the body so that it does not have to be administered as often. Howles and his colleagues are working on such advances right now: “Now, because I know very well how difficult the situation can be for the couple, I’m all the more motivated to make it easier for them,” he says — and he also believes that his work is making a contribution to the common good: “After all, what do our western societies need more nowadays than children?”.