Scientists Gave Women With Premature Menopause One Treatment—30% Had Babies
Summary
A small study tested immunotherapy to help women with premature menopause due to autoimmune disease. The treatment helped some women’s ovaries start working again, leading to the birth of healthy babies in a few cases.Key Facts
- Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) causes the ovaries to stop working before age 40 and affects over 3% of women worldwide.
- The study involved 12 women with autoimmune-related POI; 10 completed the treatment.
- Before treatment, none of the women’s ovaries produced mature eggs.
- Researchers used rituximab, a drug that calms immune cells, to try to restore ovarian function.
- After treatment, 6 out of 10 women showed ovarian activity, and 5 had mature eggs collected.
- Three women had embryos implanted and gave birth to healthy babies.
- All women who responded also had Addison’s disease, suggesting the treatment may work best for certain groups.
- The study was small and exploratory, and more research is needed before this can become a common treatment.
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