Live birth from a frozen-thawed pronuclear stage embryo almost 20 years after its cryopreservation.
OBJECTIVE
To report a live birth after transfer of cryopreserved pronuclear embryos in cryostorage for almost 20 years.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Academic IVF center.


METHODS
A 42-year-old female patient with low ovarian reserve receiving donated embryos. These embryos were the result of an anonymous donation from an infertile couple who had conceived during her IVF treatment.


METHODS
Cryopreservation (slow-freeze method) and thawing of pronuclear stage embryos, and ultrasound-guided uterine ET.


METHODS
Live birth.


RESULTS
Five pronuclear embryos were thawed; two embryos survived, cleaved, and were transferred on day 2. A singleton term pregnancy was achieved with the delivery of a healthy boy.


CONCLUSIONS
A healthy live birth was documented after uterine transfer of pronuclear stage cryopreserved (slow freeze)-thawed embryos that were in storage for 19 years and 7 months. To our knowledge this case represents the "oldest" cryopreserved human embryos resulting in a live birth to date.
Dowling-Lacey
Donna
D
The Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia 23507, USA.
Mayer
Jacob F
JF
Jones
Estella
E
Bocca
Silvina
S
Stadtmauer
Laurel
L
Oehninger
Sergio
S
D000328:Adult; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D050498:Live Birth; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors; D017388:Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer