Highlights of 2019: First ‘frostie’ twin launches egg bank

13 Dec 2019

Jamie Facer-Childs on his Antarctic expedition

The first day of Spring this year saw the arrival of a very special guest at our Wickford clinic. Jamie Facer-Childs and his are the world’s first frozen embryo twins and their mum Ro, is one of the first 100 people to have IVF treatment.

Jamie came to officially launch the clinic’s advanced cryopreservation service and egg bank. This will offer more patients the option of fertility preservation and a greater flexibility for egg sharing.

Increasing your options – from fertility preservation to donor eggs

Egg freezing ahead of surgery, chemotherapy, or another life event that will impact fertility, is recommended. It is available on the NHS, however, many women are still not aware of this option.  By promoting the egg bank we hope that more people will be able to have the opportunity to start a family, if they wish to, in the future.

The egg bank at Wickford also enables access to a greater diversity of donated eggs and allows women to share their eggs without the need to match them with a recipient.

Jamie Facer-Childs with Anne O’Leary and Ro Facer opening frozen donor egg bank
Jamie Facer-Childs with mum, Ro, and Bourn Hall lead embryologist Anne O’Leary

Continuing the pioneering spirit

Jamie came along to our Wickford clinic accompanied by his mum Ro.  One of the first patients in the world to have IVF treatment. She was treated by IVF pioneer Patrick Steptoe at our Cambridge clinic more than 30 years ago.

Jamie Facer-Childs on his Antarctic expedition

Starting life as a frozen embryo seems to have inspired Jamie, instilling the need to challenge what appears impossible and explore what looks unachievable.

His adventurous spirit has led him to undertake some huge challenges. As a result, he has been awarded a world record for being part of the youngest pair to row across the Indian Ocean in 2009 and is also a member of the first British team to complete a foot-traverse of Antarctica in 2017.

Jamie is now a doctor and enjoyed meeting a number of patients who had benefited more recently from fertility treatment and fertility preservation at Bourn Hall.

Read the full story over on our Fertility Blog.

More information

Read more about Bourn Hall’s new egg bank and the options available at our state of the art Wickford Clinic.

Earlier this year, we also launched free egg freezing to women under 35 who are prepared to share some of their eggs with others. Find out more about our egg freezing programme.

Gemma-and-Vic-with-Arthur-web

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