10-year-old Frozen Embryos Helped 61-year-old Woman To Become A Mother

A Brazilian woman's lifelong dream of becoming a mother got fulfilled when she gave birth to twins this week, a week after she turned 61.

The pregnancy was achieved using artificial insemination and 10-year-old frozen embryos.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) - Introduction To Infertility and Reproduction
Encyclopedia section of medindia gives a brief introduction to infertility and reproduction

Antonia Leticia Rovati Asti gave birth Monday thanks in part to the efforts of Orlando de Castro Neto, a specialist in assisted reproduction who the would-be mom sought out in 1992.

Asti tried in-vitro fertilization in 2002. Failing to become pregnant, she decided to adopt, but was rejected because of her age.

"The new attempt at artificial insemination was carried out with embryos that were left from the first procedure 10 years ago and were frozen," a source at Neto's clinic told EFE.

Egg Donation
The term ‘Egg Donation’ is commonly used to refer to the contribution of her eggs by a woman to another, who is incapable of producing her own.

Asti's eggs were fertilized using sperm from her husband.

The twins, Sofia and Roberto, were delivered by caesarian at Sao Lucas Hospital in Santos, a week after the new mother turned 61.

Artificial Insemination - Milestone Types Intrauterine FAQs
Artificial Insemination is a medical procedure usually used to treat infertility. In this procedure, sperm is placed into a female's vagina, uterus or fallopian tubes by artificial means.

"Antonia had preserved embryos from the first fertilization, but the embryos have a validity of 10 years, more or less, and they were reaching their end. She said she wanted to use them for a new attempt," Neto told the media.

"The age didn't matter at all," the doctor said. "The only condition is that a woman has a uterus."

Is Infertility on the Rise?
The current trend among the working-class people is to postpone the starting of a family. This will lead to dramatic rise in the incidence of infertility.

The major obstacle facing people in the same situation as Asti is social prejudice against women over 40 bearing children, Neto said.

Source-IANS