A woman who became infertile as a child after a bone marrow transplant has had a baby a decade on, after frozen ovarian tissue taken before the operation was recently implanted in her remaining ovary, bringing back her fertility.
Never before has an ovarian tissue transplant been successful when the tissue was taken from a child before they reached puberty.
The Belgian woman who has experienced the success was 13-years-old when she had one ovary removed and frozen as she was warned the bone marrow transplant she required would leave her infertile, reports Sky News.
She had never had a period before.
At the woman’s request over a decade later, four slivers of the frozen ovary were implanted on her remaining ovary and five months later, her periods began.
Two years on she fell pregnant and – in November 2014 – gave birth to a 6lbs 9oz boy.
The medical breakthrough provides a glimmer of hope for postmenopausal women, according Simon Fishel, president of CARE Fertility Group and a professor of human reproduction.
Fishel told Sky News ovarian tissue transplants have the potential to replace hormone replacement therapy (HRT) which reduces the symptoms of menopause.
