Utah study proposes indefinite delay of menopause
Delaying Menopause Indefinitely: New Research Offers Hope
Girls are born with a million small structures called primordial follicles, each containing an egg cell. As they grow, most of these follicles die off, and only one typically ovulates a mature egg each month.
“When the loss of primordial follicles is nearly complete, and only hundreds remain, women experience menopause, a time when menstrual cycles have ceased for 12 months,” a release from the University of Utah said.
But now, groundbreaking research suggests that it may be possible to delay the onset of menopause indefinitely. A team of experts, including a mathematician from the University of Utah, has developed a model that explores the potential of removing and implanting a woman’s ovarian tissue repeatedly. This technique, already used to restore fertility in cancer patients, could hold the key to delaying menopause.
The collaboration involves Sean Lawley, an associate professor of mathematics at the University of Utah, Joshua Johnson, an ovarian biologist from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Jay Emerson, a professor of statistics and data science from Yale University, and Kutluk Oktay, a physician and professor from Yale School of Medicine.
In the late 1990s, Oktay pioneered the method of harvesting ovarian tissue from young cancer patients, freezing it, and then transplanting it back once they had completed cancer treatments. This technique, known as “ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation,” has already helped hundreds of cancer survivors conceive and give birth to children. Unlike freezing eggs and in vitro fertilization, this method has the potential to impact menopause.
“A lot of the interest behind delaying menopause is fertility, but a lot of it also comes from the idea that functioning ovaries are better for a woman’s health,” Lawley said. “Menopause is associated with many health issues relating to cardiovascular disease, bone density, obesity, etc. Keeping ovaries functioning longer might delay or even prevent these health issues from starting.”
The team used mathematical modeling to address questions about the effectiveness and optimization of the procedure. They even developed an online calculator that estimates how many years a woman could delay menopause through this technique. The data suggests that preserving ovarian tissue at a younger age allows for a longer delay in menopause.
“If ovarian tissue can be frozen under the age of 30 years, in theory, menopause can even be eliminated in some cases,” the study said. “However, the feasibility and safety of delaying menopause beyond age 60 need to be clinically evaluated.”
This groundbreaking research offers hope for women seeking to delay menopause and potentially avoid the negative health effects associated with it. While further clinical evaluation is needed, the possibility of indefinitely postponing menopause is an exciting prospect.
What are the implications and potential benefits of delaying menopause for women’s health and reproductive choices, as highlighted in Dr. Maria Contel’s research
Medicine, and Dr. Maria Contel, a reproductive endocrinologist from the University of California San Francisco. The team simulated the loss of primordial follicles over time and analyzed the effects of removing and implanting ovarian tissue on the lifespan of a woman’s reproductive system.
According to their research, by removing a portion of a woman’s ovarian tissue and freezing it, the primordial follicles within the tissue can be preserved. The frozen tissue can then be re-implanted at a later time, replenishing the supply of follicles and potentially extending the reproductive lifespan.
The team’s mathematical model predicts that by repeating this process throughout a woman’s life, menopause could be delayed indefinitely. The model takes into account factors such as the rate of follicle loss, the effectiveness of tissue removal and implantation, and the potential for complications or side effects.
While the concept of delaying menopause may sound enticing, some experts have cautioned that additional research is needed before this technique can be considered safe and effective for widespread use. Currently, the procedure of removing and freezing ovarian tissue is primarily used for fertility preservation in cancer patients, and its long-term effects on menopause and overall health are still relatively unknown.
However, the implications of this breakthrough research are significant. Delaying menopause could have a profound impact on women’s health and quality of life. Menopause brings about a range of physical and emotional changes, including hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and an increased risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. By delaying menopause, women could potentially avoid or mitigate these symptoms and associated health risks.
The ability to delay menopause could also provide more reproductive choices for women. Many women today are choosing to delay starting a family for personal or professional reasons. However, the biological clock remains a pressing concern, as fertility declines with age. If menopause can be postponed, it could allow women more time to pursue their goals before starting a family.
It is important to note that this research is still in its early stages, and more studies are needed to confirm and refine the model’s predictions. Additionally, ethical considerations and potential societal implications should be carefully addressed before this technique becomes widely available.
Nevertheless, the possibility of delaying menopause indefinitely offers hope for women worldwide. It represents a significant advancement in our understanding of reproductive biology and the potential to extend women’s reproductive lifespan. As further research unfolds, it is an exciting time for women’s health, promising new possibilities and opportunities.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
