Infertility | Stem Cells Australia

Condition

Infertility

There are many conditions that impact fertility in men and women. Infertility is a common condition that is typically defined as the inability for a couple under 35 years of age to conceive after 12 months of attempting without the use of contraception.

Fertility of a couple can be influenced by several factors such as lifestyle, environmental exposure and/or a medical disorder. Given the complex nature of the factors influencing fertility, treatment options are usually focused on the couple implementing lifestyle changes and, where applicable, therapeutic treatments such as drug therapy, IVF or surgery.

sca cell images Sexual Dysfunction

How could stem cells help?

Understanding the disease

Stem cells have been used to create cells that are like immature sperm and eggs. Such research allows scientists to observe how eggs and sperm develop in the body and provide new ways to better understand factors contributing to infertility, especially when the cause of infertility is genetic.

Developing new drugs

Previously, scientists have been unable to observe the early stages involved in the development of eggs and sperm. However, with advancements in stem cell science, we may one day be able to understand this important stage in our development such as which genes are switched on or off, as well as providing insight into possible drug targets.

Replacing lost cells

Scientists have been able to make eggs and sperm in mice from stem cells made from re-programmed tissue samples, such as blood or skin. Whilst this provides an exciting potential for couples who may be unable to have a biological child due to the absence sperm of eggs, it is long away before we can safely develop fully functional sperm and eggs and achieve the birth of a healthy child.

What are the challenges?

Whilst the development of eggs and sperm in mice is exciting progress, applying this process to humans poses many barriers. Making reproductive cells are one thing, however these cells undergo a process of ‘maturation’ in ovaries or testicles before they can effectively result in fertilisation and the birth of a healthy child. Some barriers include ensuring the reproductive cells made do not turn into tumours but rather healthy eggs and sperm, as well as how to mature these human reproductive cells in the lab to maximise safety and minimise invasiveness.

Where can I find out more about clinical trials?

There are a number of sites that list clinical trials for infertility, including the clinicaltrials.gov registry but please note that the scientific justification for the intervention and the credentials of those offering the service may have NOT been fully evaluated by this registry. Your findings may include listings that are NOT legitimate clinical trials. Please consult with your medical specialist or general practitioner as they are best placed to advise you on whether you would be a good candidate for a trial given your circumstances.

Please note: Although some clinics may claim to already offer stem cell treatments for male and female infertility, there are serious questions about the scientific rationale and the safety of many of these approaches. Currently, there are no proven, safe and effective stem cell treatments for this condition available in Australia, the EU, US or elsewhere.

Some of this material has been adapted from factsheets produced by EuroStemCell.org under a Creative Commons license.
Where else can I go to find out more?

Stem Cell Treatments - Frequently Asked Questions

National Health and Medical Research Council

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