UK Wedding News
21/07/2014
A new – and potentially safer – method of stimulating ovulation in women undergoing IVF treatment has been successful, researchers have confirmed.
The women were given an injection of the natural hormone kisspeptin to make their eggs mature, and the findings, which have been published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, found that the hormone can be used successfully. The research added that 12 babies have been born after their mothers received an injection of kisspeptin.
Another hormone, hCG, is usually administered to women for this purpose, but in some cases there is a risk that this can actually overstimulate the ovaries and could, therefore, have life-threatening consequences to the mother. However, unlike hCG, which remains in the blood for a long time after an injection, kisspeptin is broken down more quickly, meaning the risk of overstimulation is lower.
For the study, scientists at Imperial College London tested the method in 53 volunteers at London's Hammersmith Hospital. The women in the study were given one injection of kisspeptin to induce ovulation and it was discovered that mature eggs developed in 51 out of 53 of the women.
A total of 49 women had one or two fertilised embryos transferred to the uterus, and 12 became pregnant. The team described the statistics as "a good outcome compared to standard conventional IVF therapy".
They added that a second study will now be carried out in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, who have the highest risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). OHSS affects around a third of IVF patients in a mild form, and can cause symptoms like nausea and vomiting. A small amount of patients – less than 10% - experience moderate or severe OHSS, which can result in kidney failure.
Commenting on the results, Lead Researcher, Professor Walijit Dhillo, from the Department of Medicine at Imperial College London, explained: "OHSS is a major medical problem. It can be fatal in severe cases and it occurs in women undergoing IVF treatment who are otherwise very healthy.
"We really need more effective natural triggers for egg maturation during IVF treatment, and the results of this trial are very promising.
"Our study has shown that kisspeptin can be used as a physiological trigger for egg maturation in IVF therapy. It's been a joy to see 12 healthy babies born using this approach.
"We will now be doing more studies to test whether kisspeptin reduces the risk of OHSS in women who are most prone to developing it, with a view to improving the safety of IVF therapy."
One in six couples in the UK experiences infertility. In 2011, 48,147 women underwent IVF treatment. This study has been funded by the Medical Research Council, the National Institute for Health Research and the Wellcome Trust.
(JP/CD)
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Safer IVF Treatment 'Is Promising'
A new – and potentially safer – method of stimulating ovulation in women undergoing IVF treatment has been successful, researchers have confirmed.
The women were given an injection of the natural hormone kisspeptin to make their eggs mature, and the findings, which have been published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, found that the hormone can be used successfully. The research added that 12 babies have been born after their mothers received an injection of kisspeptin.
Another hormone, hCG, is usually administered to women for this purpose, but in some cases there is a risk that this can actually overstimulate the ovaries and could, therefore, have life-threatening consequences to the mother. However, unlike hCG, which remains in the blood for a long time after an injection, kisspeptin is broken down more quickly, meaning the risk of overstimulation is lower.
For the study, scientists at Imperial College London tested the method in 53 volunteers at London's Hammersmith Hospital. The women in the study were given one injection of kisspeptin to induce ovulation and it was discovered that mature eggs developed in 51 out of 53 of the women.
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A total of 49 women had one or two fertilised embryos transferred to the uterus, and 12 became pregnant. The team described the statistics as "a good outcome compared to standard conventional IVF therapy".
They added that a second study will now be carried out in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, who have the highest risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). OHSS affects around a third of IVF patients in a mild form, and can cause symptoms like nausea and vomiting. A small amount of patients – less than 10% - experience moderate or severe OHSS, which can result in kidney failure.
Commenting on the results, Lead Researcher, Professor Walijit Dhillo, from the Department of Medicine at Imperial College London, explained: "OHSS is a major medical problem. It can be fatal in severe cases and it occurs in women undergoing IVF treatment who are otherwise very healthy.
"We really need more effective natural triggers for egg maturation during IVF treatment, and the results of this trial are very promising.
"Our study has shown that kisspeptin can be used as a physiological trigger for egg maturation in IVF therapy. It's been a joy to see 12 healthy babies born using this approach.
"We will now be doing more studies to test whether kisspeptin reduces the risk of OHSS in women who are most prone to developing it, with a view to improving the safety of IVF therapy."
One in six couples in the UK experiences infertility. In 2011, 48,147 women underwent IVF treatment. This study has been funded by the Medical Research Council, the National Institute for Health Research and the Wellcome Trust.
(JP/CD)
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