Woman delivers twin rhesus monkeys following IVF

Invitro Fertilization (IVF) has been playing an increasing role in helping couples fulfill their dream of becoming parents for the last decades so much so that the procedure is almost seen as yet another frequent way to get pregnant and have a baby. Twins are not unusual following IVF either, due to the fact that multiple embryos are implanted in many cases. But one Oregon woman, aged 45, got the shock of her life when she gave birth to healthy twins. The woman, who remains anonymous, went into labor three months early but delivered healthy babies following a short labor. To the shock of the medical team at the woman's delivery, the woman who received her treatment at the Oregon Health and Science University delivered two female rhesus monkeys.

Oregon Health and Science University researchers had been experimenting with monkey IVF for the last few years, and had already had success in delivering monkeys with three genetic parents. Three-parent IVF treatment is being researched to prevent mitochondrial disease, and the United States has refused to allow the technique to be used on humans until it was perfected with animals. Healthy monkeys were already born using the technique in 2009. This woman's story combines the development of this new revolutionary technique and IVF embryo mix-up cases, which do occur at times, to form her own personal nightmare.

The twins looked healthy on ultrasound, apart from some concerns over their size. When she went into labor three months early, she and her husband were said to have headed to the hospital immediately, where she delivered a baby of a whole different kind than she expected! The twins were said to be doing fine, but the press has not yet released any details about how the mother and father are feeling. I have no idea how I would feel parents who gave birth to babies following embryo mix-ups have to deal with a tricky emotional fall-out, but this is a whole other story.