02/06/2026
🧬 Could aging eggs one day be rejuvenated?
One of the biggest challenges in fertility treatment is that egg quality naturally declines with age. As eggs get older, they are more likely to develop chromosome abnormalities, which can make it harder to conceive and can increase the risk of miscarriage or unsuccessful IVF cycles.
Researchers have recently been studying a protein called Shugoshin-1, often described as a “guardian” of our chromosomes. Its role is to help ensure chromosomes are divided correctly when an egg matures.
As we age, levels of this protein naturally decrease. In recent laboratory studies, scientists were able to restore Shugoshin-1 levels in aging eggs. Remarkably, this helped reduce chromosome errors and improved the overall quality of the eggs.
💡 What does this mean for fertility treatment?
While this research is still in the early stages and is not yet available in fertility clinics, it could one day lead to new treatments designed to support egg quality, improve embryo development, and potentially increase IVF success rates.
This is an exciting example of how fertility science continues to advance, bringing us closer to understanding reproductive ageing and finding new ways to support patients on their fertility journey. 🤍🌱