Scientists Might've Just Cracked a New Clue About Infertility
What's going on: The world loves to remind women that their biological clock is ticking. We’re born with a finite number of eggs, and over time, their quality can decline — increasing the risk of infertility or miscarriage for some people. But groundbreaking research shared last week is shedding new light on how to potentially improve egg quality. Scientists found that injecting a protein called Shugoshin into eggs could prevent chromosomes from separating too early, helping them stay connected and reducing age-related defects. The study has yet to be peer-reviewed, but researchers hope to launch a clinical trial as their next step.
What it means: If the scientists’ hunch is right, this could reshape in vitro fertilization (IVF) by targeting egg quality directly. The big question now: Will restoring protein levels improve egg health or just prevent it from further deteriorating? Researchers still face a long road ahead, but many are cautiously optimistic and say the findings reflect real progress. As the director of the Cornell Reproductive Sciences Center put it: “[This] won’t solve everybody’s problem … but we’re so much further than even 10 years ago.”
