Treatment and preservation at the extremes of reproductive age: a case report outlining the ethical dilemmas

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
James D M NicopoullosHossam Abdalla

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to report a livebirth from a cryopreserved embryo created from autologous oocytes collected at 47 years and 9 months that outlines the ethical difficulties of decision-making at the extreme of reproductive age. The method used was IVF and embryo cryopreservation within an assisted conception unit prior to adjuvant cancer treatment in a nulliparous patient diagnosed with breast carcinoma (47 years and 9 months at oocyte collection). A 47-year-old nulliparous woman was diagnosed with breast malignancy during work-up for fertility treatment. Ovarian stimulation yielded one embryo from four oocytes that was cryopreserved to allow completion of adjuvant treatment. Subsequent embryo transfer cycle led to a live birth of a healthy baby girl at term, weighing 3.37 kg. This paper demonstrates the oldest reported age of autologous oocyte collection to have achieved a livebirth. In women where most would consider treatment futile, we highlight the difficulties in decision-making in this group of patients.

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