Female Infertility: Application & Benefits of Stem Cells

Female infertility is defined as the failure to get pregnant even after 12 or more months of regular sexual intercourse with an intent to become pregnant. In other words, female infertility is the inability for the female partner to get pregnant in the natural way.

Infertility not only affects an individual but also largely impacts their families. It is difficult to ascertain the definite cause of infertility since there are a number of different factors involved.

There are two types of female infertility; primary infertility, where the female has never been pregnant and is not able to get pregnant even after 6 months or more of trying. Secondary infertility is where the female has been successfully pregnant once but is unable to get pregnant now. 

With the number of cases of infertility rising daily and impacting millions of people and conventional treatment strategies not meeting expectations, people are looking beyond existing options. That’s where stem cell therapy is establishing itself by bridging the gap between expectations and reality.

This blog not only aims to enlighten the applications of stem cell treatment for female Infertility but also gives an overview of causes, symptoms and existing treatment interventions of female infertility.

Types and Causes of infertility

1. Asherman’s Syndrome:

It is a syndrome where scar tissue or intrauterine adhesions develop inside the wall of the uterus and narrow down the space inside the uterus. The narrowing of space contributes to the risk of infertility.

2. Thinning of Endometrium:

The thickness of the endometrium plays an important role in fertility. When the thinning of endometrium occurs, it cannot strongly anchor the fertilized egg. The risk of miscarriages increases in cases where, by chance, fertilized egg implants to the thin endometrium.

3. Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI):

It is a condition where ovaries fail to function properly before the age of 40. It often leads to an irregular menstrual cycle since the ovaries do not produce eggs and enough hormones. Therefore, it leads to infertility.

4. Endometriosis:

It is a condition where cells or tissue similar to that of the endometrium develop inside the uterus. Endometriosis results in irregular periods and leads to infertility. 

Hormonal imbalance also contributes to infertility in females.

5. Pituitary Gland Dysfunction:

Any disruption in the pituitary gland alters the production of FSH and LH, which is responsible for stimulating ovulation. If ovulation doesn’t take place, it can lead to infertility. Similarly, if the pituitary gland produces prolactin in excess amounts, it can decrease the levels of estrogen, resulting in infertility. 

6. Fallopian tube damage:

Any infection or surgery damages the fallopian tube and either blocks the movement of sperm towards the egg or the movement of a fertilized egg through fallopian tubes towards the uterus.

7. Undefined Infertility:

Sometimes, the cause of the infertility remains unknown and can be a result of problems in both partners and remain unexplained.

Symptoms related to infertility

1. Endometriosis	Pelvic pain, painful urination, bleeding, painful intercourse, back pain, diarrhoea
2. Primary ovarian insufficiency	Irregular period, mood changes, acne, fatigue, changes in weight
3. Endometrium thinning	Loss of pregnancy, amenorrhea, painful periods and inability to conceive
4. Asherman syndrome	Hormonal imbalance, irregular periods, pelvic pain, irregular blood flow

Treatment of Female Infertility

After the diagnosis of infertility, the healthcare provider determines the treatment plan depending on the cause and type of infertility. Treatment strategies either help in restoring fertility or getting pregnant.

1. Medications: Fertility drugs stimulate the pituitary gland to release FSH and LH, which increases the chances of ovulation. Gonadotrophin injections stimulate the production of eggs from the ovary.
2. Metformin: In cases where insulin resistance is the cause of infertility, healthcare providers recommend metformin to improve insulin resistance so that it improves the likelihood of ovulation.
3. Bromocriptine: Similarly, in cases where the pituitary gland produces prolactin, the use of bromocriptine can increase the estrogen levels needed for ovulation.
4. Surgical options: Surgeons opt for laparoscopic or hysteroscopic surgery to remove abnormal fibroids, uterine adhesions and any other uterine abnormality. These kinds of surgeries are also used to correct the blockage of fallopian tubes.
5. Intrauterine insemination: It is a process that occurs during ovulation where millions of sperm are introduced into the uterus to assist in the fertilization process.
6. Assisted reproductive technology: The leading example of assisted reproductive technology is IVF. It is an elaborate procedure where the egg and the sperm are fertilized in the lab, and later on, after fertilization, the embryo is transferred to the uterus.
7. Diet and exercise: Eating a healthy diet and engaging in routine exercises creates a positive environment and improves overall well-being.

Note: The above information is purely for educational purposes and should not be mistaken for medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or medical practitioner.

Complications of conventional treatment strategies

1. Fertility drugs increase the risk of twins or triplets. Apart from pregnancy with multiples, it also increases the risk of developmental problems, premature labour, and low birth weight.
2. Injectable drugs lead to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which results in painful ovaries. It causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, weight gain and vomiting. The drugs taken both orally and in injection form carry risk of complications.
3. Women or females who take fertility drugs for a prolonged period are at risk of developing ovarian tumours.

Stem cell therapy for female infertility

Even after progress in infertility treatment, many females still experience infertility and seek more effective options. In this regard, in treating female infertility, stem cell treatment has provided a new ray of hope.

1. Stem cells restore ovarian functions by travelling to the site of the damaged ovary and releasing cytokines and growth factors.
2. Factors such as hepatocyte, insulin, and vascular endothelial growth factor when released, trigger a series of actions, such as stimulating new vessel formation, preventing apoptosis, and reducing fibrosis. Thus, these effects aid in ameliorating ovarian dysfunction.
3. Stem cells also modulate and ameliorate the immune response and reduce inflammation by enhancing the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines and Treg cells. 
4. They also regenerate endometrium and restore functions that improve fertility.

The outcomes seen after the stem cell therapy are

1. Enhanced number of follicles and functions of ovary
2. Restoration of menstruation
3. Increased ability to conceive
4. Improvement of endometrial thinning

Applications of Stem Cells in Female Infertility

1. Asherman syndrome: In the stem cell treatment for Asherman syndrome, stem cells replace the damaged endometrium and regenerate and replenish the endometrium. They also help achieve consistent menstruation and attain fertility.
2. Primary ovarian insufficiency: Several studies report that stem cells for primary ovarian insufficiency promote ovarian recovery by reducing apoptosis and restoring hormone levels, resulting in restoration of fertility.
3. Stem cell treatment for endometrial thinning: Stem cells promote regeneration of the endometrium, enhance the thickness of the endometrium and transform back the morphology of the endometrium to normal.

Summarizing points

Stem cell therapy is established as the effective available option for the treatment of infertility. Since infertility in young females and women creates anxiety and stress, early intervention can be helpful. Stem cells show remarkable improvement in ovarian functions and menstruation by combining cutting-edge technology and expertise. These offerings greatly benefit infertile individuals.

FAQs

Q: Define female infertility.

Female infertility is defined as the failure to get pregnant after 12 months or more of regular sexual intercourse. In other words, female infertility is unable to get pregnant. 

Q: What is Asherman’s syndrome?

Asherman’s syndrome is a syndrome where scar tissue or intrauterine adhesions develop inside the wall of the uterus and narrow down the space inside the uterus. The narrowing of space contributes to the risk of infertility.

Q: How do stem cells treat infertility?

Stem cells migrate to the site of damaged ovary, release cytokines and growth factors and trigger a series of actions such as stimulating new vessel formation, preventing apoptosis, and reducing fibrosis. Thus, these effects aid in ameliorating ovarian dysfunction.

Q: What are the outcomes seen after stem cell therapy in infertility?

The outcomes seen after the stem cell treatment are an enhanced number of follicles and functions of the ovary, restoration of menstruation, increased ability to conceive and improvement of endometrial thinning.