Birth of a baby conceived from frozen oocytes of a 40-year-old woman

The potential, limits and safety of oocyte freezing are still being explored. Female age may play a relevant role in treatment outcome. The present study is the first report of the birth and normal development of a baby conceived from frozen oocytes of a 40-year-old woman. IVF was carried out in an infertile 40-year-old woman, and seven metaphase II (MII) oocytes were obtained after ovarian stimulation. Three fresh oocytes were inseminated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), according to Italian law. Two embryos were transferred, but pregnancy did not occur. The four remaining MII oocytes were frozen (by slow freezing protocol) and ICSI was performed in the two oocytes surviving after thawing. Two embryos were obtained on day 2. Both embryos were transferred, resulting in a singleton pregnancy, and a healthy male baby was born. So far, the child (now 3 years old) has scored normally according to the WHO Child Growth Standards. The Denver Developmental Screening Test for psychomotor development was normal. This report demonstrates that conception and pregnancy from cryopreserved oocytes belonging to women up to 40 years of age is possible, and can yield normal children. This finding has implications for women who want to preserve their reproductive potential.