Stem Cell Therapy for Infertility in Couples

Infertility affects 8-12% of couples worldwide (up to 186 million people). It is one of the prime causes of the global decline in the number of children and is classified into primary and secondary infertility. Every phase of the ovulation and fertilization process must be completed correctly for pregnancy to occur. One-third of infertility cases are caused by male factors, primarily sperm functional and morphological disorders, such as precocious puberty, genetic defects, and structural issues such as testicular constriction; penile damage or harm leading to sperm dysfunction; and environmental and psychological attributes. Ovulation dysfunction, an atypical uterus or fallopian tube, endometritis, primary ovarian insufficiency, and pelvic adhesions are examples of

female factors.

Depending on the reason and patient features, infertility therapy ranges from pharmaceutical to assisted reproductive technology (ART). ART uses medicine, surgery, or microscopic fertilisation technologies to intentionally induce pregnancy and involves all sorts of infertility treatment as well as the prescription of hormones such as oestrogen, testosterone, and glucocorticoids. ART can be used to treat infertility in both men and women and has been proven to benefit a large number of infertile people. ART, on the other hand, has sparked ethical debates and conflicts. Furthermore, it is intrusive, costly, and unpredictable, and it frequently results in adverse effects or symptoms.

A Fresh Hope With Stem Cells

Stem cells have received a lot of interest in the field of infertility in recent years. Stem cells are multipotent original cells with the ability to split into a variety of different cells for repair, development, and regeneration. Research model studies have revealed that treating infertility using stem cell therapy is gaining popularity. 

• Stem Cell Therapy for Male Infertility

Due to a significant reduction in male fertility in recent years, researchers have shifted their focus to more effective and faster treatment solutions such as stem cells. Studies have previously established their ability to differentiate, generate new blood vessels, and promote anti-inflammatory effects to prevent further cellular deterioration. Some of the common male infertility issues include erectile dysfunction and oligospermia.

Infertility can be caused by a variety of factors, but the most prevalent include hormonal imbalances, genetic diseases, and disruption in testicular or ejaculatory function. Research into stem cells' tremendous capacities has yielded new medical understanding that can be utilised to cure disorders such as heart disease, diabetes, and infertility. The two main forms of stem cells employed in research are those from animals and those from people, and they are normally embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Studies on employing stem cells to treat male infertility are centered on encouraging the cells to create sperm that can be employed in infertility therapies. 

• Stem Cell Therapy For Female Infertility

Infertility therapeutic interventions in modern medicine include both conservative and surgical approaches. Unfortunately, despite the use of in vitro fertilisation, not all women are able to conceive. As a result, stem cells have been extensively used in the recent decade, both in the treatment of infertility and to enhance the outcomes of in vitro fertilization.

In the treatment of female infertility, stem cells are most commonly used in the combination of premature ovarian failure and insufficient uterine endometrium thickness for fertilization. In premature ovarian failure, stem cells encourage ovarian function restoration (development of female sex hormones, normalisation of the menstrual cycle, and oocyte maturation) and improve the odds of conception.

In conclusion, because of their capacity for regeneration, stem cells are viewed as a fresh hope for enhancing the treatment of female infertility. However, eggs have not yet reached an oocyte-like cell stage in vitro, and it is still unknown whether or not eggs can develop into oocytes and gain fertilization functions.

Conclusion

Stem cell therapy has been demonstrated to be effective in treating malignant malignancies, degenerative illnesses, and tissue damage. There are still many undiscovered aspects of stem cell therapy, therefore there is still a great deal of unrealized promise for its use in treating conditions like infertility. Currently, gametes produced from stem cells can be utilized as an in vitro model to assess the effects of medications. Overall, the study of stem cells has produced significant advances in the management of female infertility. We shall keep making efforts to sort through the intricate web of moral concerns surrounding this form of therapy.