Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize IVF success rates for older women by "rejuvenating" human eggs. Researchers at Ovo Labs claim to have found a way to reverse an age-related defect in embryos that causes genetic errors, potentially leading to improved egg quality and increased chances of successful pregnancies.
The breakthrough involves supplementing eggs with a crucial protein called Shugoshin 1, which declines with age and leads to premature chromosome separation. By injecting this protein into eggs donated by fertility patients, the researchers were able to reduce the number of defective eggs from 53% to 29%. In eggs from women over 35, the defect rate decreased from 65% to 44%, although the results were not statistically significant.
The approach has the potential to nearly halve the number of eggs with chromosomal abnormalities, which is a major cause of IVF failure and miscarriage in older women. According to the latest UK figures, the average birthrate for each embryo transferred in IVF treatment drops sharply after age 35, from 35% for women under 35 to just 5% for those aged 43-44.
While the technique is not expected to extend fertility beyond menopause and has yet to be tested in extensive clinical trials, the results are "really promising" according to Dr. GΓΌneΕ Taylor of the University of Edinburgh. The researchers believe that this approach could provide a game-changer for women struggling with infertility, offering a single injection that substantially increases the number of eggs with properly organized chromosomes.
The discovery is the culmination of years of research into egg biology and brings Ovo Labs one step closer to commercializing their technique. If confirmed, it could lead to improved IVF success rates and new hope for older women struggling with infertility.
The breakthrough involves supplementing eggs with a crucial protein called Shugoshin 1, which declines with age and leads to premature chromosome separation. By injecting this protein into eggs donated by fertility patients, the researchers were able to reduce the number of defective eggs from 53% to 29%. In eggs from women over 35, the defect rate decreased from 65% to 44%, although the results were not statistically significant.
The approach has the potential to nearly halve the number of eggs with chromosomal abnormalities, which is a major cause of IVF failure and miscarriage in older women. According to the latest UK figures, the average birthrate for each embryo transferred in IVF treatment drops sharply after age 35, from 35% for women under 35 to just 5% for those aged 43-44.
While the technique is not expected to extend fertility beyond menopause and has yet to be tested in extensive clinical trials, the results are "really promising" according to Dr. GΓΌneΕ Taylor of the University of Edinburgh. The researchers believe that this approach could provide a game-changer for women struggling with infertility, offering a single injection that substantially increases the number of eggs with properly organized chromosomes.
The discovery is the culmination of years of research into egg biology and brings Ovo Labs one step closer to commercializing their technique. If confirmed, it could lead to improved IVF success rates and new hope for older women struggling with infertility.
this is HUGE! can you even imagine being able to have a kid in your 40s? no more worrying about declining fertility or feeling like you're running out of options 
it's all about the science now, but honestly, if it means just one less person having to deal with infertility issues, that's a win in my book 
. But seriously, if it works out and they can make it to clinical trials without messing it up, it's definitely a promising start for women struggling with infertility. Maybe we'll see some actual success stories in the future instead of just "almost there" news 
. Can't wait to hear more about this 
! This discovery is crazy! I mean, who would've thought that injecting a protein into human eggs could actually help them? It's like science fiction come true! The idea that they can reduce chromosomal abnormalities by nearly half is mind-blowing. And the fact that this technique could potentially increase IVF success rates for older women is just amazing 
. I know how hard it can be for women to get pregnant, and this could be a game-changer. Can't wait to see where this research goes from here! 
! But seriously, reversing age-related defects in embryos is like giving grandma's eggs a youth serum 
. The idea of reducing chromosomal abnormalities from 65% to 44% for women over 35 is like winning the lottery... for their babies' future, that is! And if they can almost halve those defective eggs, it's like having an extra chance at IVF success - not bad for a little protein injection 
.
the fact that they can reduce the number of defective eggs from 53% to 29% is mind-blowing 
i mean, who would've thought that injecting a protein into donated eggs could make such a big difference? 
And think about all the old ladies out there who cant have kids because their eggs are too messed up... this could be LIFE CHANGING!!! 
can you imagine being able to reverse the clock on your eggs lol I mean I remember watching my mum struggle with fertility issues when she was younger and it was so tough on her but if this technique actually works then yeah that'd be amazing...I guess 29% is still kinda high but better than 53% right? 
! They're basically talking about a magic injection that can make old eggs work like new again 
. And it's not just older women either, young girls under 35 are also affected by this chromosomal mess 
. I'm all for any innovation that helps people start families - it's amazing what science can do when we let them 
And 5% birthrate for women over 35? That's already super low. Are we really counting on this tech to turn it around? I'm all for helping out those struggling with infertility, but let's not get too ahead of ourselves. What about the long-term effects and the real costs involved? This just feels like a Band-Aid solution to me... 
). but what's even more exciting is that this tech might be able to help people from all walks of life - not just those who are desperate or going through traditional ivf routes 
. but from where i'm sitting, this seems like a pretty game-changing discovery