An Ohio couple welcomed a baby boy developed from an embryo that was frozen for nearly 31 years, making it the longest storage period before a successful birth.
The parents, Linda and Tim Pierce, used embryos donated in 1994 as part of an embryo adoption process after years of infertility treatments. Their son was born on Saturday, with the embryo having been stored for a record-setting 11,148 days, according to their doctor.
The concept of using frozen embryos dates back to the 1990s and is increasing in popularity as many fertility clinics oppose discarding leftover embryos due to beliefs that life begins at conception. Proponents argue all embryos should have a chance to be born into loving homes.
"I felt these three little embryos deserved to live just like my daughter did," said Linda Archerd, 62, who donated her embryos to the Pierces.
In the U.S., around 2% of births result from in vitro fertilization, with an even smaller fraction involving donated embryos. Approximately 1.5 million frozen embryos are currently stored nationwide, with many parents unsure what to do with their unused embryos created through IVF.
A recent Alabama Supreme Court decision complicates the issue by granting legal child status to frozen embryos, raising questions about liability and future regulations.
Archerd sought fertility treatment in 1994 when advancements in embryo freezing, thawing, and transfer began. She ended up with four embryos but divorced shortly after having her daughter, leaving three embryos unused as she faced mounting storage costs.
Eventually finding Snowflakes, a division of Nightlight Christian Adoptions, offered Archerd the option to donate her embryos while having preferences for their adoptive families.
The process was complex and required shipping the frozen embryos from Oregon to Tennessee. Only one of three transferred embryos successfully implanted in Lindsey Pierce’s womb.
Dr. John David Gordon reported that this transfer set a new record with the embryo surviving for nearly 31 years before resulting in live birth, surpassing a previous clinic case of an embryo stored for 30 years (10,905 days).
"These stories both inspire and serve as cautionary tales about the fate of frozen embryos," said Gordon.
Lindsey and Tim Pierce expressed gratitude to Rejoice Fertility for supporting them through this journey, which they initiated not for record-breaking purposes but to grow their family.
For Archerd, experiencing emotional highs and lows with this process, she feels relief that her embryos were donated successfully while eagerly awaiting pictures of the baby and the possibility of a future meeting.