Could egg defect breakthrough help stop the ‘horrible IVF rollercoaster’?
Results of research offer hope to older women – but it will be several years at least before technique is approved
TL;DR
- Age-related decline in egg quality is a major challenge in IVF, especially for women over 35.
- Scientists have discovered that decreased levels of the protein Shugoshin 1 in aging eggs cause chromosomal errors.
- Supplementing eggs with Shugoshin 1 in lab experiments reduced the incidence of these defects.
- This research offers potential for a new IVF technique to rejuvenate eggs before fertilization.
- The technology is still experimental and requires further testing for safety and efficacy.