Ovarian Tissue Freezing Could Prevent Menopause–Possibly Forever (2024)

a year ago

Menopause has both advantages and disadvantages for women, with some welcoming the end of menstruation and others fearing symptoms like hot flashes.
Scientists are exploring whether menopause can be delayed in healthy women to extend child-bearing years and reduce health risks linked to estrogen decline.
Dr. Kutluk Oktay at Yale School of Medicine has researched ovarian tissue freezing to potentially delay or eliminate menopause.
A mathematical model predicts how long menopause can be delayed based on factors like age, amount of tissue harvested, and survival rates of follicles post-transplant.
Ovarian tissue cryopreservation has been used successfully in cancer patients to preserve fertility before treatments that could trigger menopause.
The procedure involves removing and freezing ovarian tissue, then reimplanting it later to restore ovarian function.
Younger women (under 40) may benefit more from the procedure, with those under 30 possibly preventing menopause altogether.
Delaying menopause could offer health benefits like reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, dementia, and bone loss, but more research is needed.
The study was co-authored by researchers from the University of Colorado, University of Utah, and Yale University.

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