The artificial ovary, hope for women with infertility?

Danish researchers have developed an artificial ovary made of human tissue. It could be a major step in creating a functional and transplantable ovary, especially for women with infertility after cancer.

The discovery brings new hope for women with dementia. 'infertility. A team of researchers from Copenhagen, Denmark has designed an artificial ovary made from human tissue, reports the British daily The Guardian this Sunday, July 1.

The device developed by the researchers, consisting mostly of collagen, is able to keep eggs alive for several weeks. It could be for women wanting to conceive a child after cancer or some badociated heavy treatments, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Safer for women with cancer

As recalled France Info these women can already use the freezing of their ovarian tissues. But according to Susanne Pors, a member of the research team, the artificial ovary would be a safer alternative than transplant, especially for women with ovarian cancer.

Indeed, because of the risk badociated with the re-implantation of potentially cancerous tissues, the freezing of the ovaries is only rarely offered to these high-risk patients.

Several years of research

For the time being, Danish researchers have succeeded in implanting an artificial ovary containing 20 ovarian follicles, inside a mouse. One-third of implanted follicles survived at least three weeks.

Meanwhile, blood vessels "sprouted around the ovary to supply it" specifies France Info . "This is the first proof that we can really make these egg cells survive. This is an important step explains Susanne Pors. But we will have to wait for years before we can implant it in a woman. "