All women are born with a certain number of eggs in their body. This means that, at some point, every woman runs out of eggs or her eggs become less viable and she is no longer capable of conceiving a child.
The American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has estimated the following sterility rates among women by age group:
Age in Years = Risk of Childlessness (%)
20-24 = 5.7%
25-29 = 9.3%
30-34 = 15.5%
35-39 = 29.6%
40-44 = 63.6%
But these facts may be about to change.
Four years ago, U.S. scientists concluded research showing that stem cells can be derived from an adult woman’s ovaries and used for “growing” into mature egg cells.
Now, Chinese researchers have reported in an article in Nature Cell Biology that these cells, when transplanted into the ovaries of laboratory animals, can develop into healthy eggs capable of being fertilized. They hope that this type of technology can be used successfully in women, as well.
If so, perhaps the one in ten women who struggle with infertility may have a new way of developing healthy eggs. The treatment could also be used in women who have damaged eggs.
This research was led by Chinese scientist Dr. Ji Wu, who stated that these adult stem cells “can be used to extend female reproductive lifespan.”
“The generation of new oocytes (eggs) could postpone normal or premature ovarian failure, or be used in the treatment of infertility,” said Wu.
This adult stem cell breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize the world of infertility treatment.
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