Woman gives birth from embryo frozen for 18 years

A baby girl was recently born from a frozen embryo that was harvested 18 years ago, earning her the title of most 'frost-resistant' baby in China.

The infant was born on June 27, weighing 3.3kg to a 45-year-old woman, China Times reported.

In 1998, the woman sought fertility treatment at Fudan University's obstetrics and gynaecology hospital in Shanghai.

She had trouble conceiving due to blockage in her fallopian tubes, a condition which prevents sperm from reaching the egg or blocks the passage of the fertilised egg into the uterus.

After three failed attempts to conceive through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), the disheartened woman decided to place her plans for children on hold.

According to Xinhua, the remaining embryos were kept frozen in liquid nitrogen at -196 degrees Celsius for future attempts.

It took 18 years for the woman to give motherhood another try, after learning that a friend had twins through IVF.

Her hopes to conceive came to halt when she was diagnosed with a series of other fertility issues that were not discovered when she first underwent IVF.

Doctors found that the woman's fluid-filled fallopian tubes, thin uterine membrane, and uterine fibroids had prevented her from conceiving.

After undergoing surgery to remove the uterine fibroids and fallopian tubes, she recuperated for a year.

Last November, she was finally pregnant using one of her frozen embryos, and delivered a healthy baby.

Chinese media have proclaimed the birth as a medical feat as the embryo remained viable despite being frozen for 18 years, far exceeding the recommended storage life of five years.

See also: Baby boy born via IVF from world's oldest sperm

minlee@sph.com.sg