IVF Baby Born From Oldest Frozen Sperm

22-year-old frozen sperm ties world record. Charlotte new dad, 39, froze sperm at 16 before chemotherapy that cured his leukemia.

 

CHARLOTTE, April 9, 2009 – Fertility specialists of Reproductive Endocrinology Associates of Charlotte (REACH) herald the successful birth of a baby girl March 4 who was conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) at their laboratory with sperm frozen for 21 years, which they believe is a new world record for the longest-frozen sperm used to create a baby with IVF.

Chris Biblis, 38, of Charlotte, was treated for leukemia from age 13 to 18. In 1987, at 16, his family encouraged him to freeze his sperm, even though there was no treatment for male infertility at the time. It was not until that 1992 the first baby was born from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a breakthrough fertility technology in which scientists inject a carefully selected healthy sperm cell into a human egg in the lab.

Biblis is now in remission, having been clinically disease-free for more than 20 years. In May 2008, he and his wife, Melodie Biblis, 33, also in excellent health, sought fertility treatment with REACH founder and fertility specialist Dr. Richard L. Wing.

“They achieved pregnancy on their first cycle of intracytoplasmic sperm injection used in conjunction with IVF, a now-routine procedure for male infertility, using her eggs and his frozen sperm,” Wing said. “We had every reason to expect a perfect baby but are thrilled nonetheless,” he said.

Baby Stella Biblis was born in excellent health March 4, 2009.

The Biblis couple is outspoken about the importance of cryopreservation (freezing) before treatment for diseases such as leukemia and cancer. Both routinely require radiation and chemotherapy that present the risk of infertility to both men and women, including some, like Biblis, who are treated during adolescence. Through her work as a pediatric nurse, Mrs. Biblis has been involved with families who have gone through similar challenges and confidently tells them “normal life goes on.”

REACH has successfully frozen men’s sperm as well as (already fertilized) embryos leftover from IVF for use at a future time. REACH doctors also participate with Fertile Hope, a national nonprofit organization that provides reproductive information, support, and financial aid to cancer patients whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility. More information is available online, http://reachdrs.com/assisted-reproductive-technology-art/egg-freezing.html.

The following timeline of assisted reproductive technology milestones places the birth of Stella Biblis in its historical context:

• -   The first IVF baby, Louise Brown, was born 30 years ago in 1978.
• -    Embryo freezing began in 1983.
• -    Chris Biblis froze his sperm in 1987, although there was no treatment for male infertility at the time (embryo freezing was irrelevant for a young adolescent boy freezing sperm).
• -    The first ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) baby was reported in 1992.
• -   Unfertilized eggs were not frozen until 1997, the first time young women whose fertility was threatened by illness could store their eggs until the time they wished to start their families.
• -   Stella Biblis born March 4, 2009, from 21-year-old-sperm her father Chris Biblis froze in 1987.