Charlotte Baby From 21-Year-Old Frozen Sperm Ties Record
Posted: 3:35 pm EDT April 9, 2009Updated: 5:59 pm EDT April 10, 2009
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A Charlotte group says it has tied the world record for the longest frozen sperm used to create a baby.Fertility specialists of Reproductive Endocrinology Associates of Charlotte (REACH) announced the birth of a baby girl conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) at their lab with sperm frozen for 21 years. The group believes this ties the 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.
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GMA Talks To Family Of Baby Born From 21-Year-Old Frozen Sperm
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, 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.Biblis shares cyropreservation history with New Yorker Ken Decker, whose daughter Madison was born in August 2008 from sperm Decker froze before undergoing chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease when he was 24.The 21-year span between both men's sperm cryopreservation and their daughters births rank as two of the longest periods of time for conception on medical record.The Biblis family spoke to "Good Morning Ameria" on Friday."Just a blessing. We could not have asked for anything more," said Melodie Biblis.Chris Biblis said when he was being treated for leukemia, this future was nowhere in focus.“I was trying to get through high school and living one day at a time, hoping I was going to be --honestly -- going to make it. That was the furthest thing -- being married or having a child," he said."The things we went through to get here, you know in saving my life, I was able to create a new life. Words just can’t describe how happy I am," Biblis said.Wing said the process that led to the baby is not that unique.“What's unique about this case is that it came from the sperm specimen that was almost 22 years old,” he said. “I am just delighted that they were able to have a healthy child."The Biblises now hope what they went through will help others not to give up."I think it's important that families who have children who have leukemia or cancer or other life-threatening illnesses appreciate that there is life -- life after cancer for sure -- years down the road," Biblises said.Doctors said there's no increased risk of genetic abnormalities or long-term health effects in a baby just because sperm was frozen for years.The Biblis family wouldn't say if they plan to have more children, but they said they have the genetic materials to try again.
VIDEO:
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, 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.Biblis shares cyropreservation history with New Yorker Ken Decker, whose daughter Madison was born in August 2008 from sperm Decker froze before undergoing chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease when he was 24.The 21-year span between both men's sperm cryopreservation and their daughters births rank as two of the longest periods of time for conception on medical record.The Biblis family spoke to "Good Morning Ameria" on Friday."Just a blessing. We could not have asked for anything more," said Melodie Biblis.Chris Biblis said when he was being treated for leukemia, this future was nowhere in focus.“I was trying to get through high school and living one day at a time, hoping I was going to be --honestly -- going to make it. That was the furthest thing -- being married or having a child," he said."The things we went through to get here, you know in saving my life, I was able to create a new life. Words just can’t describe how happy I am," Biblis said.Wing said the process that led to the baby is not that unique.“What's unique about this case is that it came from the sperm specimen that was almost 22 years old,” he said. “I am just delighted that they were able to have a healthy child."The Biblises now hope what they went through will help others not to give up."I think it's important that families who have children who have leukemia or cancer or other life-threatening illnesses appreciate that there is life -- life after cancer for sure -- years down the road," Biblises said.Doctors said there's no increased risk of genetic abnormalities or long-term health effects in a baby just because sperm was frozen for years.The Biblis family wouldn't say if they plan to have more children, but they said they have the genetic materials to try again.
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