Follicles fertility 'breakthrough'
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.
Dr Telfer said: "This is a significant step in developing immature eggs to maturity outside the body. Women who face infertility as a result of chemotherapy, or who want to put their biological clock on hold, could benefit from this system. However, there is a lot more research to be carried out before this technique could be safely applied within a clinical setting."
As yet the scientists do not know whether eggs matured in this way are completely normal and suitable for In-Vitro Fertilisation. However, animal studies suggest that they are.
"We believe there's good evidence that we can get normal oocytes (eggs), but of course you would never apply this technique clinically until you are sure," said Dr Telfer.
He added: "We're seeking funding for further research to bridge that gap. It might take five to 10 years from now before we get to the stage of a clinical trial."
