Greek Couple Welcomes Daughter from Embryo Frozen for 22 Years, Highlighting IVF Age Limit Debate
A Greek couple, Cristina Rapti-Tzelepi, 54, and Constantinos Raptis, 60, recently welcomed a daughter born from an embryo that had been frozen for 22 years. This birth occurred just months after the couple lost their 21-year-old son in a road crash. Cristina Rapti-Tzelepi faced a strict 54-year age limit for IVF procedures in Greece, necessitating a race against time to secure approval and complete the process. The successful birth of their daughter, Georgia, named in honor of their late son, has brought renewed hope to the family. Dr. Kostas Pantos, their gynecologist and head of the Hellenic Society of Reproductive Medicine, has called for a review of Greece's age restrictions for IVF, citing the country's declining birth rate and the right of parents to pursue such options. The case highlights the increasing use and success rates of long-frozen embryos, with a recent Ohio couple holding a Guinness World Record for a baby born from an embryo frozen for over 30 years.
