Birth after 27 years of cryopreservation: a unique case in medicine

How a baby conceived 27 years ago was born

A baby conceived 27 years ago through in vitro fertilization (IVF) was recently born. This unique case is due to the cryopreservation of an embryo that had been stored in a special cryopreservation center for nearly three decades before being successfully thawed and transferred to the future mother's uterus. A donor egg was used, as the embryo was part of the donor embryo program.

Embryo story: from freezing to birth

In 1992, embryos were produced in the United States under laboratory conditions, then frozen and stored in a specialized cryopreservation center. This center belongs to the non-governmental Christian organization National Embryo Donor Centre, located in Knoxville, Tennessee.

After nearly three decades, in February 2020, the couple Tina and Ben Gibson decided to become parents again. It was their second attempt to have a child using donor embryos. The couple had previously struggled unsuccessfully with infertility for five years, until they learned they had the option to take advantage of the donor embryo program.

Birth of Emma and Molly: cryopreservation records

It was through such a program that Tina and Ben became parents for the first time in 2017. They welcomed a baby girl named Emma. This case made headlines because the embryo from which Emma was born had spent a full 24 years frozen. Until recently, the little girl was considered the "oldest" baby born after having the embryo stored in a cryobank for such a long time.

However, at the beginning of 2020, Tina and Ben Gibson turned once again to the National Embryo Donation Center to renew their experience. The successful cryopreservation resulted in the birth of their second daughter, Molly. This case was unique because Molly's embryo had been in cryobank for 27 years, making her birth even more remarkable compared to Emma's, whose embryo had been frozen for three years less. Thus, Molly broke the record set by her older sister Emma.

Impact on reproductive medicine

The story of the Gibson family clearly demonstrates the possibilities offered by modern reproductive techniques. Embryo cryopreservation opens new perspectives for childless couples, giving them a chance to become mothers or fathers, even decades later. This case has not only attracted public attention, but it has also become a significant milestone in the development of reproductive medicine, demonstrating that cryopreserved embryos can be successfully preserved and used after a long period.

This case has led to new research on the long-term preservation of embryos and the improvement of cryopreservation techniques. It has also contributed to the growing interest in the use of donor embryos, expanding infertility treatment options and providing new solutions for families dreaming of children.