14-Apr-03 Novel Technique May Diagnose Egg Aging

A unique technique of performing a biopsy on an egg may be able to accurately determine whether it is aging.  According to Dr Goud and colleagues from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, this can be achieved by assessing the ooplasmic microtubule activity of the egg.

It is already widely known that aging eggs contribute to a decline in fertility and also the quality of embryos.  However, it has been very difficult in the past to accurately diagnose an aging egg based solely on morphological evaluation.  This has resulted in decreased pregnancy rates for women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART).

Dr Goud has developed a technique that permits the biopsy of an egg without damaging it.  He has also developed a 'marker' that highlights if an egg is developmentally impaired, and this technique can help when selecting good quality eggs.  This essentially means that a woman who has had previous failed ART cycles would be able to have the quality of her eggs checked.  This technique may also be used to help increase pregnancy rates and to decrease the number of multiple births.

'Novel Technique May Diagnose Oocyte Aging'
Source: www.medscape.com