What is the reason for the decline in women’s fertility?

A recent study revealed that the decline in women’s fertility with age is not only due to a decrease in the quality of eggs, but is also linked to changes in the cells and tissues of the ovary itself, which changes the scientific understanding of this complex process.

The chances of pregnancy usually decline from the mid-thirties, and the prevailing belief was that the reason was the deterioration in the quality of eggs, which were limited in number. However, the new study shows that the ovary, with its cells and functions, plays an essential role in this decline.

Because human ovarian tissue is difficult to obtain, the researchers used mice as an experimental model, comparing the ovaries of young and old mice with human ovarian samples from women of different ages. Using 3D imaging techniques and genetic analysis, the team mapped precisely the types of ovarian cells and their functions.

The results showed great similarity between humans and mice in the cells responsible for egg growth, such as granulosa cells that produce estrogen, in addition to differences in theca cells that produce testosterone. Researchers also discovered the presence of glial cells within the ovaries of both sexes, which play a pivotal role in stimulating egg production.

When these cells were genetically manipulated in mice, symptoms resembling polycystic ovary syndrome appeared, opening the door to the development of new treatments for it. Also, scientists have observed that human ovaries become stiffer with age due to the accumulation of fibrous tissue resulting from repeated ovulation and tissue repair, which accelerates ovarian aging.

The study concludes that fertility decline is not linked to eggs alone, but rather to the cellular environment of the ovary, calling for increased investment in women’s health research to understand the causes of infertility and polycystic ovary syndrome and to develop drugs that enhance fertility. (Russia Today)