Follicles fertility ‘breakthrough’
(sz) Early stage follicles which provide a woman’s life-time stock of immature eggs can be grown and matured in the laboratory, scientists have shown for the first time.
The British breakthrough, which is still being studied, has the potential to revolutionise fertility preservation for women in the next five to 10 years.
A key application would be safeguarding the fertility of women about to undergo chemotherapy for cancer, whose follicles could be removed before the start of treatment.
Powerful anti-cancer drugs can destroy follicles in the ovaries, wiping out any possibility of a woman having children.
Another possibility is that the technique could help women wanting to side-step the menopause, or delay motherhood for the sake of their careers. It could also provide a potentially rich source of eggs for scientists, including those studying stem cells.
A team led by Dr Evelyn Telfer, from the University of Edinburgh, succeeded in growing primordial follicles to a late stage of maturation in the laboratory. more…
From: »The Press Association«