A Greek couple has experienced a significant moment of hope and renewal. Cristina Rapti-Tzelepi, aged 54, and her husband made an important decision to use one of her old embryos in their pursuit of a new child. This decision came not long after the couple faced the loss of their 21-year-old son in a tragic road accident. Rapti-Tzelepi utilized an embryo she had frozen 22 years ago, racing against a government age limit for in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Greece enforces a strict 54-year age limit for women to undergo IVF procedures. When Rapti-Tzelepi embarked on this journey, she had little time to spare. “I only had a 2½-month window,” she explained, detailing the stress involved. However, with strong support from her medical team, she overcame the challenges.
On a recent Wednesday in Athens, she gave birth to a daughter weighing 7 pounds, 11 ounces. The emotional moment was shared with her husband, Constantinos Raptis, 60, at a bright hospital room filled with pink balloons and flowers. “We decided to give life a second chance,” expressed Rapti-Tzelepi, sitting in black pajamas. She hopes her daughter will grow up happy and healthy, similar to their late son who brought joy to their family.
The birth involved using an embryo frozen for over two decades. This is rare but not unprecedented. An Ohio couple previously welcomed a child from an embryo frozen for over 30 years, recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest embryo for a successful pregnancy.
Dr. Kostas Pantos, Rapti-Tzelepi’s gynecologist and head of the Hellenic Society of Reproductive Medicine, has called for a review of Greece’s strict age restrictions. “The law is very strict: 54 plus one day is not allowed. Maybe it’s time for it to change,” Pantos commented, highlighting Greece’s declining birth rates.
The father, Constantinos Raptis, expressed deep gratitude to the doctor for bringing hope back into their lives. He described the doctor’s support as critical to overcoming their darkest moments. Their new daughter, Georgia, is named in honor of their late son, Giorgos, who was also born through IVF. The couple remains open to having more children, possibly by seeking treatment abroad.
Embryo adoption is gaining popularity in the United States, as well. Transfers of donated frozen embryos nearly quadrupled from 2004 to 2019. It is estimated that there are over 1 million frozen embryos in the U.S., many retained by those hesitant to discard them after IVF cycles.
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