How decades-old frozen embryos are changing the shape of families
1 min read
Summary
On 29 July a baby was born from an embryo which had originally been frozen in storage 30 and a half years ago.
The birth has since been certified by Guinness World Records as the longest known frozen embryo to have ever developed into a baby.
Embryo donations from one family to another are a popular alternative to adoption, allowing children to be carried by their intended mothers, but with no genetic link to their ‘parents’.
According to a 2018 study, there is no negative effect on parent-child relationships in families with donated embryos.
The same study found that children born from donated embryos are psychosocially well-adjusted, with no differences compared with children who are conceived naturally.