July 2, 2007

scientists react to news of birth from matured, frozen eggs

The birth of a baby girl, now one year old, from an egg which had been matured in vitro and frozen before being fertilised was announced at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

Lord Robert Winston, Emeritus Professor of Fertility Studies, Imperial College, said:

“This is important step forwards that could potentially help women with fertility issues, including those undergoing cancer treatment. But much more work needs to be done to ensure that there are not genetic defects in babies born using this technique.”

Christopher Barratt, Professor of Reproductive Medicine, University of Birmingham, said:

“This news is potentially very exciting but we need to be cautious regarding possible epigenetic changes.”

David Hodgson, Medical Director of the London Fertility Centre, said:

“London Fertility Centre wishes to add their congratulations and support to this new treatment regime using IVM and oocyte vitrification. This will enable both women requiring urgent collection of eggs to avoid high levels of oestrogen associated with standard IVF and also women with Polycystic ovarian syndrome to avoid complications of traditional IVF drug regimes. We at London Fertility Centre are always looking at ways to reduce the dose of IVF stimulatory drugs to achieve good pregnancy rates. Could this new technology herald “no drug” IVF in the future for the majority of women undergoing IVF?”

Prof Alison Murdoch, Professor of Reproductive Medicine, Newcastle Fertility Centre At Life, said:

“A very small number of young women may benefit from this treatment which is a modification of existing techniques. Although stimulation is not needed, the overall effectiveness of this procedure still needs to be evaluated comparing the cost, complications and pregnancy rates. Most couples would still do best with standard IVF procedures.”

Dr Allan Pacey, Senior Lecturer in Andrology at the University of Sheffield and Honorary Secretary of the British Fertility Society, said:

“This could be a very significant step forward in developing an effective fertility preservation strategy for women and young girls who are diagnosed with cancer before they have had an opportunity to complete their families. In comparison to men who can easily bank some sperm before cancer treatment, women have very few options and that really is not fair. Clearly, there needs to be more work done to make sure that the technique is safe, and that the children born from the eggs are healthy, but if this is done then this technique could become very important indeed.”

Prof Robin Lovell-Badge, Head of Developmental Genetics, MRC National Institute For Medical Research, said:

“Each step in this work had been achieved before, but this is the first time they have been successfully strung together. It is important as it will expand the choices available to women with diseases of the ovary or cancer and the clinicians treating them. It also highlight how research and its application in this field has to be regulated with care and understanding, not with prohibition.”