61-year-old woman gives birth in Accra

A 61-year-old Ghanaian woman has celebrated the birth of her first child after undergoing an innovative fertility procedure at Mary-Lucy Hospital in Awoshie, Accra, in what the facility describes as a landmark achievement for reproductive medicine in Ghana.

Doris Anum-Dorhuso, a Chartered Accountant with 25 years of professional experience, welcomed her baby girl after 22 years of marriage without children. Having been told by several medical facilities that she had little to no chance of conceiving because of her age, she underwent a Stem Cell-Enhanced In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) procedure at Mary-Lucy Hospital.

The treatment proved successful, and on July 2, 2026—just four days before her 62nd birthday—she gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Naa Dromo.

Hospital officials hailed the birth as one of Ghana’s most significant breakthroughs in assisted reproductive medicine, highlighting the growing potential of stem cell technology in fertility treatment. The Stem Cell-Enhanced IVF procedure uses a patient’s own stem cells to restore and improve the condition of the uterus, increasing the chances of a successful pregnancy.

Ms Anum-Dorhuso and her newborn were introduced to the public during a press conference held at the hospital, which also coincided with the mother’s birthday celebration. Dressed in a white lace outfit and holding her daughter wrapped in a white shawl, she expressed gratitude to the medical team that supported her throughout the journey and encouraged women facing fertility challenges not to lose hope.

She advised women struggling to conceive to seek professional medical care instead of suffering in silence.

“Don’t stay at home crying because you cannot have a child. Find a good medical facility, trust the professionals to do their work, and continue to pray,” she said.

Reflecting on her journey, Ms Anum-Dorhuso explained that before her husband’s passing, they had sought treatment at several hospitals, where doctors declined to perform IVF because of her age. She later learned about Mary-Lucy Hospital and its Stem Cell-Enhanced IVF programme through a television programme.

Initially fearful that the treatment might require the removal of her womb, she nevertheless proceeded with faith and determination. Throughout her pregnancy, she experienced no major complications, continued working, and attended all her scheduled medical appointments.

The Director and Chief Executive Officer of Mary-Lucy Hospital, Dr Davis Kofie Adedze, who led her treatment, said advances in reproductive medicine convinced him that age alone should not rule out the possibility of pregnancy.

After Ms Anum-Dorhuso rejected suggestions to pursue adoption or surrogacy, the medical team conducted a comprehensive assessment. They discovered she had previously undergone fibroid surgery that had affected the condition of her uterus, while additional examinations revealed the fibroids had returned, leaving her with virtually no natural chance of conceiving after menopause.

Doctors performed surgery to remove 26 fibroid nodules before using her own stem cells to rejuvenate the uterus and strengthen its lining, which had thinned significantly following menopause. Once medical tests confirmed her womb could sustain a pregnancy, embryos were transferred.

According to Dr Adedze, the first embryo transfer was unsuccessful, but the second attempt resulted in a healthy pregnancy.

He said Ms Anum-Dorhuso carried the baby for 37 weeks without requiring hospital admission, maintained her normal work routine, attended regular antenatal reviews, and eventually delivered safely.

A Stem Cell Practitioner and Specialist Obstetrician-Gynaecologist, Dr Richard Asamoah, explained that pregnancies at an advanced maternal age are often associated with increased risks, including hypertension, diabetes, metabolic disorders, and kidney complications.

For this reason, he noted, every patient undergoes a thorough medical evaluation before treatment is considered. In Ms Anum-Dorhuso’s case, he said the stem cell therapy significantly reduced the potential complications and contributed to the successful outcome.

Dr Asamoah added that although the hospital has previously carried out similar stem cell fertility procedures for older women, Ms Anum-Dorhuso is the oldest patient to have successfully delivered a baby following the treatment.