Mother for the second time after receiving an ovarian tissue transplant

Anna was diagnosed with an osteosarcoma, a developmental tumour, when she was just 18 years old. To preserve her fertility, oncologists treating her at a private facility offered cryopreservation of her ovary tissue before starting chemotherapy treatment. That is how, in 2008, she joined the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital fertility preservation program.

Anna's ovarian tissue was extracted and frozen for 14 years, until 2022, when Anna was struggling to fall pregnant and professionals suggested reimplantation. The transplant was a complete success. Staff working in the Gynecology Department at the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital reimplanted the ovary tissue on 23 March 2022. Just two months later, Anna was pregnant. Then, on 26 February 2023, Biel was born.

A few weeks after Biel's first birthday, Anna was surprised to find out that she was pregnant again. So, on 28 November 2024, she gave birth to another baby boy and became a mother for the second time. Marc was born prematurely by Caesarean—as Anna had placenta previa—weighing 2 kilos and 800 grams. ‘He is a calm, happy baby’, says Anna, holding him in her arms.

‘It was a surprise. We didn't expect it. We had been trying for a baby for a while before asking for help and getting the transplant. Since they reimplanted the ovary tissue, I've gotten pregnant twice in the space of two years. We are extremely happy, as now we have the family we wanted so badly’, she adds.