An increasing number of people are waiting longer to have children, but with age, fertility declines, especially for women over 35. A new clinical trial, however, offers hope: researchers claim that rapamycin, a drug used to prevent organ transplant rejection, might extend a woman’s fertile years by up to five years.
The pilot study, though small and not yet peer-reviewed, has shown promising results. Rapamycin appears to reduce ovarian ageing by 20% without any side effects, potentially adding five years of fertility. This discovery could be a game-changer for women facing early or premature menopause, which affects around 1% of women under 40.
Women are born with a finite number of follicles, known as the “ovarian reserve.” Each menstrual cycle recruits several follicles, but only one releases an egg. As women age, the ovarian reserve diminishes, leading to menopause. By delaying the recruitment of follicles, rapamycin may help preserve the ovarian reserve.
Originally a bacterial compound used in organ transplants and certain vascular conditions, rapamycin has shown benefits in ageing and fertility in mice. Older female mice given rapamycin had an increased ovarian reserve and successful litters later in life.
The initial study involved 50 women aged 35-45, who received either a weekly dose of rapamycin or a placebo for three months. The results were encouraging, showing a reduction in follicle recruitment from 50 to 15 per menstrual cycle in those taking rapamycin.
With these promising results, researchers are moving to the next phase, recruiting 1,000 women for a larger trial. If successful, rapamycin could be a groundbreaking treatment for women with low ovarian reserves or those wanting to extend their fertility.
This study underscores the potential of re-purposing existing drugs for new treatments. Researchers at the University of Central Lancashire are exploring diabetes drugs to improve uterus conditions for embryo implantation and treat ovarian cancer.
While it’s too early to declare rapamycin as the future of fertility treatments, the initial findings offer a reason for optimism. If further research confirms these results, rapamycin could revolutionize fertility treatments and provide new options for women hoping to extend their fertile years.
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