A recent study that has been published in Nature Medicine Sunday has said that a ‘fertility switch’ has been discovered by researchers at Imperial College London. It is expected that this discovery will lead to new contraceptive techniques, as well as help to treat miscarriage and infertility.
The researchers found that people who have a high level of certain protein have links to infertility. At the other end of the spectrum women who have very little of this protein have a greater tendency to miscarry. An enzyme is a type of protein which increases the rate at which chemical reactions occur.
The study has been led by Jan Brosens who has commented, “This study suggests that miscarriage treatments could be based around this protein. It is also possible that increasing levels of the protein can be used as an effective method of contraception.”
It is estimated that up to 15% of people internationally are affected by infertility. Half of those will seek medical advice which can potentially help them to have a child. Figures also show that around 1% of women suffer from continuous miscarriages. The study looked at the womb lining of over 100 women who regularly miscarried or are infertile. The study showed that these samples had a higher level of the enzyme than fertile women had.
The researchers also conducted an experiment on mice which found that when the enzyme producing gene was placed into the womb lining the mice were unable to get pregnant. The researchers have noted that if the infertility treatment were to be developed then it would have to have a very short-term effect because if it remained in the body after conception it would increase the chance of miscarriage.
Madhuri Salker from Imperial College commented that, “Eventually doctors may be able to take biopsies from the womb and see if there are any abnormalities. If anything is detected treatment could be begun with this enzyme to reduce the chance of miscarriage and other complications. Low levels of the enzyme have been linked with cellular stress in the womb lining, this suggests a link between recurrent miscarriage and low levels of the enzyme.”
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