'Little miracle' for ovarian transplant patient
A breast cancer survivor has given birth to a little 'miracle' after her fertility was restored following an Australian first ovary transplant.
The woman had gone through menopause after receiving life-saving cancer treatment.
Yet, the patient fell pregnant and delivered a healthy baby girl after undergoing a groundbreaking ovarian tissue transplant at Monash IVF.
The new mother and bub have shied away from the spotlight, leaving fertility specialist Dr Lynn Burmeister to share the happy news.
"The miracle baby has just been born and she's very healthy," Dr Burmeister told 7News presenter Jennifer Keyte.
"She was born at 38-and-a-half weeks and at a healthy weight. She's a very normal, healthy girl.
"The mother is ecstatic and over the moon, and very surprised about the whole pregnancy and having the baby in her arms finally.
In 2006, the then 37-year-old had a small piece of ovarian tissue removed and frozen before starting chemotherapy and radiotherapy for breast cancer.
The technique, which is considered experimental, was a first for Australian doctors.
"Her only option was to freeze a little bit of her tissue, and when I saw her there was only one or two pregnancies in the world from this technology," Dr Burmeister said.
"I did it believing it may not be successful for her, but to give her hope that she may achieve a pregnancy in the future."
In April 2012, the tissue was re-implanted and the now 44-year-old began ovulating again, even though she had gone through menopause.
The woman then began IVF treatment and four months later she conceived.
"It kick started her reproductive system again," Dr Burmeister said.
The successful pregnancy offers hope for thousands of women, with doctors effectively reversing the effects of menopause and turning back the biological clock.
Dr Burmeister said the procedure will eventually become commonplace for women starting chemotherapy or at risk of early menopause.
Deanna Griffiths froze two embryos after discovering she had a tumour the size of a cantelope in her chest.
She can't believe how far medicine has progressed in the two years since she had baby Charlie.
"It's just mind boggling that this option is available to you," she said.
