Woman, 54, gives birth in Greece after using embryo frozen for 22 years

A 54‑year‑old woman in Greece gave birth after using an embryo that had been frozen for 22 years, surpassing a government deadline that limits in vitro fertilisation procedures to women under 54.

The mother, Cristina Rapti‑Tzelepi, and her husband chose to try again after the death of their 21‑year‑old son in a road crash last October. They faced a strict 54‑year age limit imposed by the Greek state, leaving them with only a two‑month window to obtain approval. Rapti‑Tzelepi said the period was stressful, but with the support of her doctor and the medical team they overcame every obstacle.

The baby, a girl who weighed 3.49 kilograms, was born in an Athens hospital on Wednesday. The parents were surrounded by pink balloons and flowers, and Rapti‑Tzelepi expressed that she wanted the child to grow up healthy and happy, echoing the joy her late son brought to their home.

Dr. Kostas Pantos, the woman’s gynecologist and head of the Hellenic Society of Reproductive Medicine, criticised the age restriction, noting Greece’s declining birth rate. The father, Constantinos Raptis, praised the doctor for restoring hope and said the family now has “a lot to live for.” They named their daughter Georgia in honour of their late son and have not ruled out trying for another child, possibly abroad.