News | US Boy Born from Embryo Frozen for 30 Years Sets New Record
A boy recently born in Ohio, USA, developed from an embryo first frozen in 1994. After more than 30 years in storage, the newborn is believed to be among the babies born from the longest-frozen embryos worldwide, drawing widespread attention in reproductive medicine.
The boy, Thaddeus Daniel Pierce, was born in Ohio on July 26, 2025. His parents, Lindsey Pierce and Tim Pierce, received the long-stored IVF embryo through “embryo adoption.”
An Embryo from 1994
The embryo originally came from Linda Archerd, now 62.
In the early 1990s, Archerd and her then-husband decided to try in vitro fertilization (IVF) after experiencing difficulty conceiving. Their treatment produced four embryos in 1994.
One embryo was transferred to the uterus and developed successfully, resulting in the birth of a daughter. That daughter is now 30 and has become a mother herself, with a 10-year-old child.
The other three embryos were frozen.
Years later, Archerd gained custody of the embryos after her divorce and began considering what to do with them. She later learned about a donation model known as “embryo adoption.”
This model allows embryo providers and recipients some involvement in the matching and selection process.
Archerd said she hoped the embryos would be adopted by a married white couple from a Christian background. Lindsey and Tim Pierce ultimately met these criteria and received the embryo.
“We Just Wanted a Baby”
In an interview with MIT Technology Review, Lindsey Pierce said the couple had not expected the pregnancy to set a record.
“We never thought about setting a record. We just wanted a baby,” she said.
The embryo transfer was performed at a US fertility clinic. Although the delivery was difficult at one point, mother and baby are now doing well.
Lindsey described the newborn as very calm and easygoing: “We still can’t believe we have such a precious baby.”
A Striking Resemblance to His “Genetic Sister”
Archerd was also surprised when she received photos of the newborn.
She said he strongly resembled her daughter as a baby 30 years earlier.
“I took out my daughter’s baby photos to compare them, and you could almost immediately tell they were siblings,” she said.
Genetically, the newborn and Archerd’s daughter are full biological siblings, despite being born 30 years apart.
Long-Term Preservation with Embryo Freezing
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a common infertility treatment. Eggs and sperm are combined in a laboratory to create embryos, which are then transferred to the uterus.
If not transferred immediately, embryos can be stored long term through cryopreservation.
The embryo transfer was performed at a fertility clinic led by reproductive endocrinologist John Gordon. Gordon is also a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church and said his medical practice is influenced by his religious beliefs.
He said: “We have certain guiding principles, and one is that every embryo should have the opportunity for life. The only embryo that cannot become a healthy baby is one that is never given a chance through transfer.”
He has also worked to reduce the number of embryos kept in long-term storage.
Share of IVF Births Continues to Rise
As assisted reproductive technology advances, IVF is becoming increasingly common worldwide.
Data from the UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) show that the proportion of babies born through IVF in the UK rose from 1.3% in 2000 to 3.1% in 2023, equivalent to 1 in every 32 births.
The proportion is higher among women aged 40 to 44. In 2023, about 11% of births in this age group followed IVF, compared with only 4% in 2000.
In the United States, about 2% of babies are currently born through IVF.
As freezing technology continues to improve, successful cases involving long-stored embryos are becoming more common. This birth from an embryo frozen for 30 years again demonstrates the long-term potential of assisted reproductive technology.
News | US Boy Born from Embryo Frozen for 30 Years Sets New Record
News | US Boy Born from Embryo Frozen for 30 Years Sets New Record
A boy recently born in Ohio, USA, developed from an embryo first frozen in 1994. After more than 30 years in storage, the newborn is believed to be among the babies born from the longest-frozen embryos worldwide, drawing widespread attention in reproductive medicine.
The boy, Thaddeus Daniel Pierce, was born in Ohio on July 26, 2025. His parents, Lindsey Pierce and Tim Pierce, received the long-stored IVF embryo through “embryo adoption.”
An Embryo from 1994
The embryo originally came from Linda Archerd, now 62.
In the early 1990s, Archerd and her then-husband decided to try in vitro fertilization (IVF) after experiencing difficulty conceiving. Their treatment produced four embryos in 1994.
One embryo was transferred to the uterus and developed successfully, resulting in the birth of a daughter. That daughter is now 30 and has become a mother herself, with a 10-year-old child.
The other three embryos were frozen.
Years later, Archerd gained custody of the embryos after her divorce and began considering what to do with them. She later learned about a donation model known as “embryo adoption.”
This model allows embryo providers and recipients some involvement in the matching and selection process.
Archerd said she hoped the embryos would be adopted by a married white couple from a Christian background. Lindsey and Tim Pierce ultimately met these criteria and received the embryo.
“We Just Wanted a Baby”
In an interview with MIT Technology Review, Lindsey Pierce said the couple had not expected the pregnancy to set a record.
“We never thought about setting a record. We just wanted a baby,” she said.
The embryo transfer was performed at a US fertility clinic. Although the delivery was difficult at one point, mother and baby are now doing well.
Lindsey described the newborn as very calm and easygoing: “We still can’t believe we have such a precious baby.”
A Striking Resemblance to His “Genetic Sister”
Archerd was also surprised when she received photos of the newborn.
She said he strongly resembled her daughter as a baby 30 years earlier.
“I took out my daughter’s baby photos to compare them, and you could almost immediately tell they were siblings,” she said.
Genetically, the newborn and Archerd’s daughter are full biological siblings, despite being born 30 years apart.
Long-Term Preservation with Embryo Freezing
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a common infertility treatment. Eggs and sperm are combined in a laboratory to create embryos, which are then transferred to the uterus.
If not transferred immediately, embryos can be stored long term through cryopreservation.
The embryo transfer was performed at a fertility clinic led by reproductive endocrinologist John Gordon. Gordon is also a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church and said his medical practice is influenced by his religious beliefs.
He said: “We have certain guiding principles, and one is that every embryo should have the opportunity for life. The only embryo that cannot become a healthy baby is one that is never given a chance through transfer.”
He has also worked to reduce the number of embryos kept in long-term storage.
Share of IVF Births Continues to Rise
As assisted reproductive technology advances, IVF is becoming increasingly common worldwide.
Data from the UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) show that the proportion of babies born through IVF in the UK rose from 1.3% in 2000 to 3.1% in 2023, equivalent to 1 in every 32 births.
The proportion is higher among women aged 40 to 44. In 2023, about 11% of births in this age group followed IVF, compared with only 4% in 2000.
In the United States, about 2% of babies are currently born through IVF.
As freezing technology continues to improve, successful cases involving long-stored embryos are becoming more common. This birth from an embryo frozen for 30 years again demonstrates the long-term potential of assisted reproductive technology.
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