Israeli Woman Successfully Conceives and Gives Birth Using Ovaries Frozen for 20 Years

Right Ovary Surgically Removed and Frozen for Fertility Preservation After Chemotherapy
Professor Level, "Glad to Effectively Prevent Menopause"

Israeli woman Tzvia (46, left), who succeeded in pregnancy and childbirth after transplanting ovaries frozen for 20 years, and Professor Ariel Revel, an obstetrics and gynecology professor at Hebrew University who performed the ovary transplant surgery (right) Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] A woman in her 40s from Israel successfully became pregnant and gave birth after transplanting her ovary, which had been frozen and stored for 20 years, back into her body.

According to the Times of Israel on the 4th (local time), Professor Ariel Level, an obstetrics and gynecology professor at Hebrew University, announced that a 46-year-old woman named Tzvia recently succeeded in natural pregnancy and childbirth after transplanting a portion of her ovary that had been frozen and stored for 20 years.

According to Professor Level, Ms. Tzvia was diagnosed with cancer in her mid-20s and, facing the need for chemical chemotherapy, decided to freeze and preserve her eggs.

At that time, medical staff noted that aggressive chemotherapy could damage the ovaries, but as a devout Jew who highly valued childbirth, she had her right ovary surgically removed and frozen to attempt childbirth after chemotherapy.

Ten years later, after successfully completing cancer treatment, Ms. Tzvia requested the transplantation of a portion of the preserved ovary.

After the ovary transplant, Ms. Tzvia gave birth to her first child through in vitro fertilization. A few years later, wanting a second child, the couple returned to the hospital. However, the previously transplanted ovary was no longer functioning, so Ms. Tzvia received a second transplant of the remaining frozen ovary tissue.

Despite medical concerns about the long 20-year freezing period, Ms. Tzvia succeeded in natural pregnancy and gave birth to a healthy daughter.

Professor Level said, "Thanks to the ovary preserved frozen for 20 years, she was able to conceive naturally at the age of 45. It is significant in that it opened the way for pregnancy even at an older age, and it is even more encouraging that it effectively prevented menopause."

He added, "She defied menopause. Normally, menopause occurs when female hormone production stops. However, when a healthy ovary returns, menstruation resumes and fertility is restored. This also promotes estrogen production," he said. "As long as the transplanted ovary remains active, she will not enter menopause for several years to come."

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