Woman delivers baby from 22-year-old frozen embryo in Greece
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In Athens, Greece, a 54-year-old woman recently gave birth to a healthy baby girl weighing 3.490 kilograms, using an embryo that had been cryopreserved since March 17, 2004.
The embryo was transferred on December 23, 2025, at a private clinic. Medical professionals believe the 22 years, 5 months, and 23 days between cryopreservation and birth represents the longest successful duration of its kind, surpassing previously reported cases of 18 years and 3 months in Japan and 17 years in Israel.
The woman, Christina Rapti-Tzelepi, had previously given birth to a son in 2004 following an embryo transfer. However, in October 2025, her family experienced the loss of their 21-year-old son in a traffic accident. Following this tragedy, Rapti-Tzelepi decided to use remaining cryopreserved embryos from her initial fertility treatment. She completed the necessary procedures and obtained approval from the National Authority of Assisted Reproduction before reaching the age limit of 54. Dr.
Konstantinos Pantos, her gynecologist and general secretary of the Hellenic Society of Reproductive Medicine, described the birth as a “significant clinical and scientific development,” emphasizing the importance of combining medical rules with compassion. The family views the birth of their daughter as a source of hope after their loss, clarifying that the new child does not replace their son but brings light back into their lives.
