The longest known frozen human embryo to result in a successful birth was born last month in Tennessee.
The ability to freeze and thaw embryos successfully is one of the greatest advancements in assisted reproductive technology. A US woman has successfully delivered a baby with a 25-year-old frozen embryo - the longest known frozen human embryo. Frozen as embryo on October 14, 1992, Emma Wren was born to Tina Gibson on November 25, 2017, weighing 6 pounds 8 ounces and measuring 20 inches long.
‘A baby has been born from an embryo frozen for nearly 25 years - possibly the longest gap between conception and birth since IVF began.’
"Do you realise I'm only 25? This embryo and I could have been best friends," Gibson, a resident of East Tennessee said. "I just wanted a baby. I don't care if it's a world record or not." Previously, the oldest known frozen embryo that came to successful birth was 20 years old. When Gibson got married seven years ago, her husband had cystic fibrosis, a condition that can make men infertile.
The couple decided to adopt a child. In the meantime, they would foster several children. Then, last year, her father told them about embryo adoption, where an embryo will be implanted in the body helping them to carry a baby.
In August 2016, Gibson submitted an application for the adoption, and by spring had three embryos from the same anonymous donor transferred into her uterus.
After a series of medical examinations to see whether her uterus would be physically capable of receiving an implanted embryo, she was declared eligible for implantation in January.
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Source-IANS