Have There Been Any Technological Breakthroughs?
There are a couple of emerging concepts in treating high FSH. The first is something called “in vitro maturation”, which is on the relatively near-term horizon and is already being practiced in a few clinics. The second is related to stem cell research and is further off in the future.
- In Vitro Maturation (IVM). IVM is a process in which egg retrieval is done much earlier in the cycle – antral follicles rather than mature follicles are retrieved. Then they are matured outside of the body, fertilized, and then transferred back into the woman’s body.
This process appears to hold a lot of promise for so-called poor responders and may provide other options for women with DOR. Below are some links with more information:- Compilation of research studies including several references to IVM presented at the first World Congress on Natural Cycle/Minimal Stimulation IVF in London in December, 2006
- Compilation of research studies presented at the second World Congress on Mild Approaches in Assisted Reproduction in London in April, 2008
- Research article providing an overview
- News article
- Another news article
- For the very latest on IVM, refer to this blog post In Vitro Maturation: Help for Women with High FSH? which indicates that it is not likely to be used in the near term for women with high FSH.
- Stem Cell Research. There is talk of one day being able to use stem cells to actually allow the ovaries to generate eggs rather than continually release eggs which were present at birth. Eggs are the only (or nearly the only) cells in the human body that don’t get generated or regenerated after birth – a woman is born with her lifetime supply of eggs and never makes any more. Here is an article that discusses the possibility of using stem cells to create sperm. And here is a very technical article that mentions the possibility of using stem cells to either create egg cells or – in a sense – fabricate eggs using donated egg material and the woman’s DNA.
- For the latest on Stem Cell Research, refer to this blog post “What Stem Cell Research Might Lead To …”
