Healthy Baby Born From Embryo Frozen 24 Years Ago

Earlier this year, a mother in Tennessee gave birth to a healthy baby born from an embryo frozen 24 years ago. This remarkable case appears to represent the longest time frame for a frozen embryo to result in a successful live birth. The baby girl, Emma, was conceived through a process called embryo adoption. The couple whose sperm and egg were originally used to create the embryo chose to donate their frozen embryo to another infertile couple trying to conceive.

24 years ago, pregnancy rates from frozen embryos were highly variable. Recent advances in freezing technology have dramatically changed the landscape, however. A technique called “vitrification” has revolutionized our ability to safely and successfully freeze embryos. With vitrification, ultra-rapid cooling rates protect the embryo from ice crystal formation. As a result, embryos do extremely well throughout the freeze-thaw process.

We are very proud of our state-of-the-art IVF laboratory at Fertility Centers of New England (FCNE). In our hands, >96% of embryos survive the thaw process following vitrification. Our pregnancy rates from frozen embryos are outstanding and just as strong as our pregnancy rates from fresh embryos. If you have questions regarding your fertility or the IVF process, please contact us today!