Clinics to grow human eggs
(sz) A major advance in fertility treatment is signalled today as doctors unveil details of a technique that will allow human eggs to be grown in the laboratory from ovarian tissue samples.
The procedure, which is being pioneered by two British fertility clinics, involves taking a piece of ovary tissue from a woman and “banking” it in a laboratory until she is ready to start a family. It would allow career women, or those waiting to meet the right partner, to delay motherhood for years.
It could also eliminate many of the health risks associated with IVF treatment. It is expected to be offered to patients within five years. Patient groups last night said the technique was an “exciting development” which would improve the safety of fertility treatment.
One in seven couples experiences difficulty conceiving and each year more than 30,000 undergo IVF treatment. More than 10,000 children are born each year as a result of IVF.
The first stage of the technique involves removing slivers of ovarian tissue through keyhole surgery. Although these would be just millimetres wide, each sample would contain thousands of immature eggs.
The ovarian tissue is then frozen until the woman is ready to try for a baby. At that time, it will be stimulated with hormone chemicals to grow the immature eggs into mature ones ready for IVF treatment. more…
From: »The Daily Telegraph«