Russia's First IVF Triplets Defied Odds After Years of Heartbreak

A mother's relentless fight for parenthood led to a historic birth—and unimaginable grief. Their story changed Russian IVF forever.

, and Administrator

2026 May 4 . 12:01 PM

1 min read

The image shows a page from a book with handwriting on it, which is the birth and baptismal record... — The image shows a page from a book with handwriting on it, which is the birth and baptismal record of the Russian family. The paper is yellowed with age and the handwriting is neat and legible. The title of the book is written in bold black font at the top of the page, followed by the names of the family members and the date of birth.

Russia's First IVF Triplets Defied Odds After Years of Heartbreak

Daria Avilova and Masha Olkhovich were born in Elektrostal, Russia, in 1992 as part of a rare set of triplets. Their arrival marked a significant moment—they were among the country’s first IVF babies. Their mother, Tatyana, had faced years of heartbreak before their birth.

Tatyana was told she would never have children after suffering two ectopic pregnancies. Determined to become a mother, she spent years undergoing hormone therapy and multiple IVF attempts. Her breakthrough came after reading an article about IVF in a hair salon. She immediately travelled to Moscow to consult a specialist.

In her third IVF attempt, four embryos were implanted. Against medical advice, Tatyana refused to terminate the weakest one, resulting in triplets: Misha, Masha, and Daria. Tragedy struck in the eighth month when Misha died from umbilical cord strangulation. Daria and Masha were born prematurely and spent months in intensive care. The family’s struggles continued when their father, Yuri, died in a car accident three years later. Tatyana was left to raise the twins alone, having already endured years of medical challenges and loss.

Daria and Masha’s birth was a milestone in Russian medical history. Their survival followed years of perseverance by their mother and months of intensive care after their premature arrival. Tatyana’s journey reflects both the progress and hardships of early IVF treatments.