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Oocyte-specific gene mutations cause premature ovarian failure
“We hope to use the information from this study and others that identify genes associated with this problem to find biomarkers in blood that can help us determine a woman’s risk of early infertility,” said Dr. Aleksandar Rajkovic, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at BCM and senior author of the paper. Premature ovarian failure, which means that the ovaries lose function before age 40, not only causes infertility but also bone and heart problems, he said.
“It affects 1 percent of women,” he said. “While most people associate it with infertility, women with premature ovarian failure face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and premature death. Ovarian reserves are important for women’s health.”
In looking for genes that cause the disorder, Rajkovic and his colleagues here and in China concentrated on those that are most likely to function in the ovary. A gene mutation does not totally halt gene activity, but Rajkovic believes it can accelerate the loss of eggs (or germ cells). When all the eggs are lost, the ovaries stop producing estrogen, leading to menopause symptoms.
In this study, Rajkovic and his collaborators screened 100 Chinese women with premature ovarian failure for mutations in FIGLA and found three different kinds of mutations in the FIGLA genes of four.
Thanks to the internet the causes and treatments for infertility issues can be researched a lot more quickly. As one thing that is not on your side when you are infertile is time. Time is of the essence when you are fighting infertility. Finding the right doctors, clinics and infertility treatments is vital but to get through it you will need a support group. Rely on other people that are also fighting infertility as this is a health problem that has broken up many a couple. So please take time to watch the video clip and leave your comments after the article about getting the best infertility help.
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More Women Want Information About Infertility Support
While it may be news to some, it’s not surprising that a new study touts women are seeking more information about infertility. With one in eight couples struggle at some point with their family building efforts, the information currently available is lacking. Conceive Magazine along with Fertility LifeLines, supported by EMD Serono, Inc., offer an new booklet to help women and couples in their infertility journey. The booklet is called In The Know guide and Fertility LifeLines(TM) and is available at Fertility Life Lines, but you have to register to receive the booklet.
To no surprise to me, the survey found that women gather the majority of their information about infertility online and via blogs. About half of the women thought the information on infertility was sufficient. That means that about 50% of the women/couples struggling with infertility have difficultly finding the information they need to make decisions, to cope, or for support.
