A commonly used drug, Rapamycin, known for its role in treating transplant patients, is now being studied for its potential to delay ovarian aging and extend fertility in women. Researchers have found that the drug can slow or even reverse signs of ovarian aging in mice, and they are exploring if similar effects can be observed in humans.
In an intriguing study, female mice administered with rapamycin daily experienced a delay in ovarian aging, postponed menopause, and were able to conceive later in life. This promising outcome has led researchers to question whether rapamycin can produce the same results in human subjects.
The clinical trial, currently underway, involves 50 women aged between 35 and 45, who are being given either rapamycin or a placebo daily for a period of three months.
Yousin Suh, a co-leader of the study and professor at Columbia University, shared with The Guardian that preliminary results are promising. Suh stated it might be “realistic to hope the drug could decrease ovary aging by 20%.”
Suh highlighted that if the trials prove successful, rapamycin could offer hope to women seeking to conceive later in life. As more women delay childbearing into their 30s and 40s, the discrepancy between increasing life expectancy and declining fertility becomes more pronounced. By age 35, a woman’s fertility begins to decline sharply due to the rapid deterioration of follicle activity.
The researchers note that menopause, typically starting around age 51, is associated with various health complications such as increased risks of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and dementia. Extending the reproductive lifespan, they argue, could allow women greater flexibility in choosing when to have children and delay the onset of these “negative health consequences of menopause.”
The next phase of the trials will involve recruiting 1,000 women to further investigate rapamycin’s efficacy in extending fertility. Results from this expanded study are anticipated in two years.
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