Greek Mother Gives Birth Using Embryo Frozen for Over 22 Years

A 54-year-old woman in Greece welcomed a baby girl weighing 3,490 grams after an embryo, frozen on March 17, 2004, was transferred on December 23, 2025. The 22-year, five-month and 23-day gap sets a new international record for the longest use of cryopreserved autologous material resulting in a live birth, surpassing previous cases from Japan and Israel. Christina, who had previously used the same batch of embryos to have a son in 2004, decided to proceed after her son was killed in a car accident in October 2025.

The clinic had to complete medical steps and obtain clearance from the National Authority of Assisted Reproduction before she hit the statutory age ceiling. Gynecologist Konstantinos Pantos, also secretary general of the Hellenic Society of Reproductive Medicine, called the outcome a significant clinical and scientific advance, emphasizing the need for compassion alongside technological progress. The team plans to publish the case details in international medical journals.