Greece: 54-year-old woman gives birth using 22-year-old embryo

A 54-year-old Greek woman, Christina Rapti-Tzelepi, has given birth to a baby girl in Athens using an embryo that had been cryopreserved for 22 years. The embryo was frozen in March 2004 following an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure that also resulted in the birth of the couple’s first son.

The pregnancy followed a period of personal tragedy for the family, who lost their son in a road accident in October 2025. The embryo was transferred to the mother’s uterus in December 2025 at the Genesis Athens clinic, leading to the birth on September 9, 2026, at Mitera Maternity Hospital.

Dr. Konstantinos Pantos, head of the Hellenic Society of Reproductive Medicine, noted that while embryos have been frozen for longer periods in the United States, this case is notable because it involves an autologous embryo—one belonging to the biological parents. The couple’s husband, Konstantinos Raptis, has called for a revision of Greek law, which currently sets the maximum age for women undergoing IVF at 54. The couple still has nine embryos in storage but is currently unable to use them due to these age restrictions.