Stem cell treatment for infertility

Infertility is a problem that affects approximately 15% of couples worldwide. For this reason, specialists around the world are constantly searching for new treatment options. One promising approach appears to be the use of stem cells in therapy.

The Problem of Infertility

The term “infertility” refers to the inability to achieve pregnancy after at least one year of regular sexual intercourse (with some exceptions) without the use of contraceptives. Infertility is a very real issue today. Interestingly, the percentage share of each type of infertility—male, female, and idiopathic—is almost identical, accounting for about 30% in each case. Although the exact causes of the increasingly common difficulties in conceiving are not fully understood, many experts point to air pollution and the high degree of food processing as contributing factors. Medications used in certain treatments, such as chemotherapy for cancer, can also sometimes cause infertility. Despite the available infertility treatments and assisted reproductive technologies, many couples are still unable to have children.

Use of Stem Cells in the Treatment of Infertility

In the course of infertility research, scientists have asked why females of certain species remain fertile throughout their entire lives, while every woman eventually reaches menopause. According to current knowledge, women are born with a limited number of eggs, which are not produced anew during life but only mature into fertilizable oocytes. Studies in mice have shown that the ovaries of female mice contain stem cells from which eggs are continuously produced. Because these are constantly generated by the mouse’s body, the animal remains fertile throughout its life. It was therefore hypothesized that similar cells (so-called germ cells) might also be present in the ovaries of women. Using highly specific markers that bind to proteins found only on the surface of stem cells, researchers were able to confirm their presence in human ovaries as well. This discovery has led to new attempts to treat female infertility and to “stimulate” the production of new, fertilizable eggs using stem cells. In addition, stem cells may help women who suffer from scarring (atrophy) of the uterine lining, which prevents proper implantation of the embryo and contributes to infertility.

Research into the use of stem cells in the treatment of infertility is being conducted, among others, by Dr. Jaroslaw Kaczynski, a gynecologist and endocrinologist. As part of a research grant, he injected stem cells derived from umbilical cords into the ovaries of four women struggling with infertility. Two of them became pregnant after a single injection of the cells. Although this research still requires thorough investigation, it is very promising and could soon set a new trend in infertility treatment. Stem cells are also being studied in the treatment of male infertility, where specialists have achieved notable success in transforming stem cells into male germ cells.

Where Else Are Stem Cells Used?

By preserving umbilical cord blood and the umbilical cord, you gain the opportunity to treat diseases that may affect your child or their siblings. In some conditions (such as leukemia), the storage of umbilical cord blood can significantly accelerate treatment; in others, it may be the only chance for health improvement. This is because umbilical cord blood and the umbilical cord are rich in stem cells that build the body and repair damaged cells and tissues. Stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood are currently used in the treatment of cerebral palsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, leukemia, and lymphomas. In addition, if compatibility is sufficient, umbilical cord blood can also be used to treat other family members. The material—the child’s umbilical cord blood—would otherwise be discarded, making its collection a form of biological security for the entire family. Stem cell therapy is still relatively new, which is why the list of diseases that may be treatable with stem cells in the future continues to grow.