Human Reproduction vol.14 no.6 pp.1650–1652, 1999 CASE REPORT Full term delivery following cryopreservation of human embryos for 7.5 years

1To whom correspondence should be addressed Successful pregnancy in a 44 year old woman is described following the transfer of embryos which were cryopreserved for 7.5 years. The embryos were obtained during a gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) procedure in 1989. To our knowledge this is one of the longest published periods of cryopreservation of embryos which has resulted in a healthy baby. This report illustrates the previously presumed viabil-ity and normality of human embryos undergoing long-term cryopreservation. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance for advanced reproductive technique pro-grammes and patients to review and update their embryo status. Key words: delivery/embryo/extended cryopreservation/ human/pregnanc