Successful IVF Birth Using Unfrozen Eggs from a Woman in Her 50s

Exterior view of Sungkwang Medical Foundation Gangnam CHA Hospital Women's Medical Research Institute (Photo by Gangnam CHA Hospital)

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] A 50-year-old woman successfully gave birth through in vitro fertilization using her own unfrozen eggs. It is considered rare worldwide for a woman of this age to give birth without using frozen eggs or donor eggs.

The Women's Medicine Research Institute at Gangnam CHA Hospital, operated by Sungkwang Medical Foundation, announced on the 22nd that a 50-year-old woman became pregnant and gave birth after undergoing in vitro fertilization using her own unfrozen eggs. The mother, Ms. A, gave birth to a healthy baby boy weighing 2.7 kg at the end of last month.

Ms. A first visited the Women's Medicine Research Institute, the infertility center at Gangnam CHA Hospital, in June 2018 and attempted in vitro fertilization in September 2019. Due to decreased ovarian function caused by aging, eggs were retrieved through controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and mild stimulation, and she successfully became pregnant after embryo transfer in September last year. Although she was diagnosed as high-risk during pregnancy with gestational diabetes, customized prenatal care through collaboration between obstetrics and internal medicine enabled her to successfully deliver via cesarean section at the end of May.

Dr. Woo-sik Lee, director of the infertility center and the Women's Medicine Research Institute, said, "It is very difficult for women in their late 40s to early 50s to become pregnant and give birth using their own unfrozen eggs." He added, "Despite difficulties such as decreased ovarian function, the couple's determination to overcome infertility and the experienced medical team working together made the birth of new life possible."

Ms. A also said, "Thanks to the women-focused medical system and systematic counseling by the medical staff at Gangnam CHA Hospital, I was able to have a precious child," and expressed deep gratitude to the infertility center staff at Gangnam CHA Hospital for enabling a safe pregnancy and delivery despite my advanced age.

The Women's Medicine Research Institute, the infertility center at Gangnam CHA Hospital, provides individualized and differentiated treatment for elderly or intractable infertility patients, including surgical treatment to correct causes of infertility and attempts at pregnancy through assisted reproductive technologies. Additionally, focusing on fertility preservation, it collaborates with the Robotic Surgery Center to treat uterine and ovarian diseases, thereby increasing pregnancy success rates for women of reproductive age.