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| First baby from lab-matured egg | First baby from lab-matured egg |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The first baby created from an egg matured in the lab, frozen, thawed and then fertilised, has been born. | The first baby created from an egg matured in the lab, frozen, thawed and then fertilised, has been born. |
| Until now it was not known whether eggs obtained in this way could survive thawing to be fertilised. | Until now it was not known whether eggs obtained in this way could survive thawing to be fertilised. |
| The advance spares women from taking risky fertility drugs that can cause a rare, yet deadly condition - ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). | The advance spares women from taking risky fertility drugs that can cause a rare, yet deadly condition - ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). |
| Canadian researchers told a fertility conference in Lyon three others were expecting babies by the same process. | Canadian researchers told a fertility conference in Lyon three others were expecting babies by the same process. |
| These pregnancies are an exciting step Dr Laurence ShawBritish Fertility Society | These pregnancies are an exciting step Dr Laurence ShawBritish Fertility Society |
| The findings hold particular hope for patients with cancer-related fertility problems. | The findings hold particular hope for patients with cancer-related fertility problems. |
| Chemotherapy can cause infertility and, therefore, some women with cancer opt to have their eggs collected and frozen before they start their cancer treatment. | Chemotherapy can cause infertility and, therefore, some women with cancer opt to have their eggs collected and frozen before they start their cancer treatment. |
| But not all women will want or be able to delay having chemotherapy to undergo ovarian stimulation. | But not all women will want or be able to delay having chemotherapy to undergo ovarian stimulation. |
| Certain tumours, including some breast cancers, can grow if the woman takes drugs to stimulate the ovaries, for example. | Certain tumours, including some breast cancers, can grow if the woman takes drugs to stimulate the ovaries, for example. |
| Early stages | Early stages |
| Dr Hananel Holzer and colleagues at the McGill Reproductive Center, Montreal, cautioned that their technique - in vitro maturation or IVM - had not yet been tried on women with cancer. | |
| The women they studied had polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) - a condition where the ovaries are covered in cysts which can impair fertility and which is linked with an increased risk of OHSS. | The women they studied had polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) - a condition where the ovaries are covered in cysts which can impair fertility and which is linked with an increased risk of OHSS. |
| Of 20 women, four achieved pregnancy with the technique. | Of 20 women, four achieved pregnancy with the technique. |
| Dr Holzer said: "Until now, it was not known whether oocytes collected from unstimulated ovaries, matured in vitro and then vitrified, could survive thawing, be fertilised successfully and result in a viable pregnancy after embryo transfer. | Dr Holzer said: "Until now, it was not known whether oocytes collected from unstimulated ovaries, matured in vitro and then vitrified, could survive thawing, be fertilised successfully and result in a viable pregnancy after embryo transfer. |
| "We have demonstrated for the first time that it is possible to do this and, so far, we have achieved four successful pregnancies, one of which has resulted in a live birth." | "We have demonstrated for the first time that it is possible to do this and, so far, we have achieved four successful pregnancies, one of which has resulted in a live birth." |
| He warned the research was still in its early stages. | He warned the research was still in its early stages. |
| Moderate or severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome can occur in 3-8% of IVF cycles. | Moderate or severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome can occur in 3-8% of IVF cycles. |
| Expand choices | Expand choices |
| Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, of the Medical Research Council's National Institute For Medical Research, said: "Each step in this work had been achieved before, but this is the first time they have been successfully strung together. | Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, of the Medical Research Council's National Institute For Medical Research, said: "Each step in this work had been achieved before, but this is the first time they have been successfully strung together. |
| "It is important as it will expand the choices available to women with diseases of the ovary or cancer and the clinicians treating them." | "It is important as it will expand the choices available to women with diseases of the ovary or cancer and the clinicians treating them." |
| Dr Laurence Shaw, spokesman for the British Fertility Society, said: "These pregnancies are an exciting step. However, the pregnancy rate is very low and therefore large numbers of eggs would be needed." | Dr Laurence Shaw, spokesman for the British Fertility Society, said: "These pregnancies are an exciting step. However, the pregnancy rate is very low and therefore large numbers of eggs would be needed." |
| He stressed that it was a treatment suitable for people with fertility problems linked to conditions such as PCOS or cancer, and not for women who merely want to delay having a family. | He stressed that it was a treatment suitable for people with fertility problems linked to conditions such as PCOS or cancer, and not for women who merely want to delay having a family. |