Five Years Ago TheWorld's First Frozen Donor Egg Bank Baby was Born

It was cutting edgeinfertility research technology that on New Year's Eve, 2005 produced the first baby using frozen donor eggs. Avery Lee Kennedy of Lexington, Kentucky, was born after the first successful in-vitro procedure using commercially available frozen donor eggs.

Renowned fertility specialists Dr. James Akin and Dr. Jeffrey Boldt performed the procedure. They are two of three founding members of Phoenix based, The World Egg Bank which was the first commercial egg bank in the USand specializes in shipping frozen eggs worldwide.

Today, Avery Kennedy is an energetic 5 year-old Kindergartener who loves school so much that she wants to be a teacher when she grows up.

Wendy Kennedy, Avery's mother, a University of Kentucky cancer nurse, witnessed first-hand successful uses of new technologies in medicine, and found comfort in the opportunity to use another woman's frozen eggs to conceive. Avery is a blue-eyed, blonde haired girl of German and Irish descent, a similar background to her motherand father. Her parents say she is outgoing, loves ballet, soccer and is singing in the kindergarten choir. The Kennedy's chose a young donor, "who looked like she fit in our family tree."

"Avery is a blessing. She may be considered a medical miracle, but she is a blessing. She is ours and it's awesome!" said Avery's parents.

The availability of frozen human donor eggs is a relatively new option for IVF patients. The technology used to freeze eggs is more technologically complicated than that of sperm or embryos. Freezing sperm and embryos has been common for decades and is routinely used in fertility treatment. Now infertile women, have the same opportunity to carry a baby using an embryo created from frozen donor eggs.

"The process of using frozen donor eggs over the traditional method of transferring fresh donor eggs is uncomplicated, less costly, and more predictable, has no geographical barriers, provides equivalent pregnancy rates and, when purchased from The World Egg Bank, comes with a guarantee," said Diana Thomas, President and CEO of The World Egg Bank.

The World Egg Bank is so confident in its product, the company provides a guarantee if less than 60% of the frozen eggs do not survive the thaw. Pregnancy rates are equivalent to traditional fresh donor eggs.

The Kennedy's became pregnant on the first try.

"I know people who did in-vitro and didn't tell anyone. It's nothing to be ashamed about," said Kennedy. "I want couples that can't get pregnant to know there's technology out there and so many more advancements since my donor egg pregnancy over five years ago," she added.

The cost of using frozen donor eggs is contained in a single payment; typically ranging from $15-$20,000 per attempt. Traditional fresh egg donation costs are typically $25-$30,000 per attempt and can have many unexpected complications and expenses. The technological development and success of egg freezing has made the process of in-vitro fertilization, using donor eggs, much less stressful and more convenient for women and their partners.Additionally The World Egg Bank now offers financing to assist with the procedures.

The World Egg Bank which opened in 2004, has been shipping worldwide since 2005.