Woman Giving Birth 15th June 2015

A young woman in Belgium has become the first 

Woman Giving Birth

to g

ive birth to a healthy baby after having her fertility restored by a transplant of ovarian tissue that was removed and frozen when she was a child.

The pioneering treatment could lift the spectre of infertility for girls who undergo harsh chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments at a young age when they do not yet have mature eggs that can be stored for use in the future.

The 27-year-old patient, who has asked to remain anonymous, gave birth to a healthy boy in November and was said to be overjoyed after suffering years of anxiety about her fertility since undergoing chemotherapy as a 13-year-old.

Isabelle Demeestere, the gynaecologist who led the trial at Erasme Hospital in Brussels, said: “This was like a victory for her, she was so happy after living with that uncertainty for years.”

The successful treatment could pave the way for fertility to be restored in many more women who until now have been unable to have children after being given medical treatments that caused damage to their ovaries, the scientist added.

“It’s the only option available for these children,” said Dr Demeestere. “It proves that immature tissue can be transplanted in adult patients. Even if you put the tissue in an adult environment, it will be activated.”

Fertility experts hailed the findings, published in the journal Human Reproduction, as a medical milestone.

Dr Geeta Nargund, medical director at Create Fertility, said: “This is a major breakthrough. It is one anecdotal case, but it’s immensely exciting. It demonstrates a natural conception and a healthy baby in a woman who simply would not have had this option until now.”