A Greek woman has given birth to a child using an embryo that had been frozen for more than 22 years, according to her doctor. The birth occurred several months after the woman’s son, who was born through the same fertility treatment in 2004, tragically died in a road traffic accident.

The patient, identified as Christina Rapti Tzelepi, underwent the successful embryo transfer despite being 54 years old, which is the maximum age permitted for in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Greece. The procedure was performed by gynecologist Konstantinos Pantos, who described the birth as emotionally significant for the family.

Pantos noted that Rapti Tzelepi had given birth to a healthy boy during her initial IVF attempt 22 years ago. The son passed away in October 2025 at the age of 21. Following this loss, she returned to the clinic, where doctors used an embryo frozen since 2001 to achieve the recent pregnancy.

The case highlights advancements in fertility preservation and the potential for long-term embryo storage to aid families facing complex reproductive challenges. It also underscores the emotional complexity for patients who have experienced loss but seek to expand their families through assisted reproductive technologies.