26 November 2012
An Argentinian woman has given birth to
twins after IVF treatment using eggs that had been frozen for
12 years.
Monica Zapotoczny, from Buenos Aires, had
previously undergone several unsuccessful rounds of IVF. Now, aged 45, she gave
birth by caesarian section to two non-identical twins, Mercedes and Guadalupe,
from eggs frozen when she was 33.
Twelve years is thought to be longest time
that frozen eggs have been kept before being used successfully for IVF.
Use of cryopreserved eggs (which includes slow-freezing and vitrification techniques) in IVF treatment
is less common than the use of cryopreserved embryos. According to the Daily
Mail, only 15 people in the UK have been born using frozen eggs.
Although cryopreservation permits eggs to be stored for
a long time, eggs may become damaged during prolonged storage. IVF
using cryopreserved embryos has achieved higher success rates than IVF with
stored eggs.
The Daily
Mail says Mrs Zapotoczny's
pregnancy offers 'new hope to cancer survivors who are holding off
having children [and] will come as a boost to career women who are having
children later in life to focus on their job'.
Mrs Zapotoczny commented:
'I hope other women who freeze their eggs can take hope from this that their
dreams can one day come true'.
SOURCES & REFERENCES
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Mail Online
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18 November 2012
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MSN New Zealand
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20 November 2012
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Sunday Times (subscription required)
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18 November 2012
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Medical Daily
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19 November 2012
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