Record-breaking birth follows 22-year embryo cryopreservation

In a historic medical milestone, a 54-year-old woman gave birth to a healthy baby girl in Athens, weighing 3,490 grams. The pregnancy was achieved through an embryo that had been cryopreserved for 22 years, 5 months, and 23 days, marking the longest documented duration for autologous genetic material to lead to a successful birth.

The embryo was initially frozen on March 17, 2004, and the embryo transfer took place on December 23, 2025, at a private clinic. This timeline surpasses previous international records, which stood at 18 years and 3 months in Japan and 17 years in Israel. The medical team is currently compiling clinical data for publication in international scientific journals.

The mother, Christina Rapti-Tselepi, had previously used the same batch of embryos in 2004 to conceive a son. Tragically, in October 2025, the family lost their 21-year-old son in a fatal traffic accident. Following this immense personal loss, the family proceeded with the transfer of the remaining cryopreserved embryo, resulting in the birth of their daughter. The medical team intends to document this case as a landmark achievement in reproductive medicine.