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12/08/2008
Baby Joy For 'Fast-Freeze' IVF Couple
A British couple have become the first to have a baby using a pioneering IVF technique.
Baby Evie, was conceived through "vitrification", to the delight of her parents, Ian and Rebecca Bloomer on 23 July.
The couple had attended the IVF clinic at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.
In August 2007, the hospital became the first to utilise a new technology to freeze unused embryos through "vitrification".
The method, which was offered to the Bloomers, gave the embryos a better chance of surviving the freeze, so that they would be available again as soon as the couple were ready to try again.
The fast-freeze method prevents the formation of crystals that can damage embryos when they are thawed.
Mrs Bloomer became pregnant almost immediately using one of the "fast-freeze" embryos.
The couple, who were childhood sweethearts, from Cwmbran, South Wales, had wanted a baby since the wed in 2001.
However, tests had revealed that Mrs Bloomer, 28, had the condition endometriosis, which made it difficult for her to conceive.
She said: "It's overwhelming. I'm starting at her now thinking 'wow, she's ours - it's actually happened for us'.
"I hope that if anybody going through treatment sees us and sees Evie, it gives them one last little bit of hope to go for it."
Mr Bloomer said: "I'm completely over the moon, totally smitten."
Lyndon Miles, Head of Embryology and Andrology for IVF Wales said "there are no implications to Evie's health as a result of the vitrification process".
He said that 17 out of 39 women offered the treatment so far had fallen pregnant and four of those were expecting twins.
"Though this is a new technique for the UK, early results and publications in Japan and the USA have been extremely encouraging."
"In addition, since the introduction of the technique, our pregnancy rate has more than doubled compared to conventional freezing methods," he added.
(DS)
Baby Evie, was conceived through "vitrification", to the delight of her parents, Ian and Rebecca Bloomer on 23 July.
The couple had attended the IVF clinic at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.
In August 2007, the hospital became the first to utilise a new technology to freeze unused embryos through "vitrification".
The method, which was offered to the Bloomers, gave the embryos a better chance of surviving the freeze, so that they would be available again as soon as the couple were ready to try again.
The fast-freeze method prevents the formation of crystals that can damage embryos when they are thawed.
Mrs Bloomer became pregnant almost immediately using one of the "fast-freeze" embryos.
The couple, who were childhood sweethearts, from Cwmbran, South Wales, had wanted a baby since the wed in 2001.
However, tests had revealed that Mrs Bloomer, 28, had the condition endometriosis, which made it difficult for her to conceive.
She said: "It's overwhelming. I'm starting at her now thinking 'wow, she's ours - it's actually happened for us'.
"I hope that if anybody going through treatment sees us and sees Evie, it gives them one last little bit of hope to go for it."
Mr Bloomer said: "I'm completely over the moon, totally smitten."
Lyndon Miles, Head of Embryology and Andrology for IVF Wales said "there are no implications to Evie's health as a result of the vitrification process".
He said that 17 out of 39 women offered the treatment so far had fallen pregnant and four of those were expecting twins.
"Though this is a new technique for the UK, early results and publications in Japan and the USA have been extremely encouraging."
"In addition, since the introduction of the technique, our pregnancy rate has more than doubled compared to conventional freezing methods," he added.
(DS)
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04 October 2010
Nobel Prize Win For British IVF Pioneer
This year's Nobel prize for medicine has been awarded to British Scientist Robert Edwards, the man who devised IVF fertility treatment. On 25 July 1978, his revolutionary work led to the birth of the world's first "test tube baby". Since then almost four million babies have been born using the in vitro fertilisation method.
Nobel Prize Win For British IVF Pioneer
This year's Nobel prize for medicine has been awarded to British Scientist Robert Edwards, the man who devised IVF fertility treatment. On 25 July 1978, his revolutionary work led to the birth of the world's first "test tube baby". Since then almost four million babies have been born using the in vitro fertilisation method.
14 February 2005
Woman in frozen embryo row takes case to Europe
A British woman, left infertile after cancer treatment, is to take her case to the European Court of Human Rights, in order to win the right to use frozen embryos created from her eggs. Natalie Evans was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and decided to undergo IVF treatment with her fiancé, Howard Johnson in 2001.
Woman in frozen embryo row takes case to Europe
A British woman, left infertile after cancer treatment, is to take her case to the European Court of Human Rights, in order to win the right to use frozen embryos created from her eggs. Natalie Evans was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and decided to undergo IVF treatment with her fiancé, Howard Johnson in 2001.
01 October 2003
Women lose right to save frozen embryos
Two women have lost a High Court bid to gain control over their frozen embryos without the consent of their former partners. Natallie Evans, 31, and Lorraine Hadley, 38, had been seeking the High Court to rule on whether they could complete an in vitro fertilization programme that had been commenced with former partners.
Women lose right to save frozen embryos
Two women have lost a High Court bid to gain control over their frozen embryos without the consent of their former partners. Natallie Evans, 31, and Lorraine Hadley, 38, had been seeking the High Court to rule on whether they could complete an in vitro fertilization programme that had been commenced with former partners.
14 December 2006
Fathers scrapped in IVF protocols
The government is to remove the requirement for a father when fertility clinics are deciding on IVF. This opens the way for lesbian couples and single mothers to be deemed parents under the legislation, effectively removing the requirement for a "father figure".
Fathers scrapped in IVF protocols
The government is to remove the requirement for a father when fertility clinics are deciding on IVF. This opens the way for lesbian couples and single mothers to be deemed parents under the legislation, effectively removing the requirement for a "father figure".
07 March 2006
British woman loses legal battle over embryos
A British woman has lost her legal battle to use her frozen embryos to have a baby at the European Court of Human Rights. Natalie Evans, 35, from Wiltshire, had started IVF treatment with her then partner, Howard Johnson, in 2001, after treatment for ovarian cancer left her infertile.
British woman loses legal battle over embryos
A British woman has lost her legal battle to use her frozen embryos to have a baby at the European Court of Human Rights. Natalie Evans, 35, from Wiltshire, had started IVF treatment with her then partner, Howard Johnson, in 2001, after treatment for ovarian cancer left her infertile.
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