New hope for women wanting to conceive

Researchers at leading infertility research and treatment provider, Repromed have made a major breakthrough in the treatment of IVF patients.

The Repromed research observed that pregnancy rates for women with adenomyosis – a less common form of endometriosis affecting the muscle of uterus - were halved during IVF compared to those without adenomyosis, even when only good quality embryos were returned to the uterus.

These findings were recently published in the prestigious journal of Human Reproduction, and will be presented at next week’s 2012 Fertility Society of Australia conference (October 28 – 31) in Auckland, New Zealand.

Repromed Medical Director Associate Professor Kelton Tremellen explained that uterine endometriosis is traditionally seen as a cause of painful periods in women who have already had children, rather than having an impact on infertile women.

Dr Vamsee Thalluri, one of the studies co-authors who will present the paper at the conference next week, said “traditionally, the condition of adenomyosis has not even been associated with infertility, so the finding that its presence was associated with a halving of the pregnancy rate certainly was surprising”.

“Our researchers were the first to link a form of endometriosis affecting the uterus (adenomyosis) with implantation failure in IVF,’’ Associate Professor Tremellen said.

“The link between adenomyosis and implantation failure during IVF was entirely unexpected and so this is a world leading new medical development.”

Related research by Associate Professor Tremellen and Professor Peter Russell, University of Sydney Professor of Pathology, has identified a possible cause for this implantation problem in women with adenomyosis.

They identified that the lining of the uterus (endometrium) is inflamed, containing excess immune cells (macrophages) which may release toxic chemicals that harm embryos and prevent their successful implantation.

The good news is that over the past two years Repromed research has shown that a combination of hormonal inactivation of the condition before IVF treatment, combined with the use of anti-inflammatory medication during the IVF cycle, can normalize the implantation process, returning IVF pregnancy rates to normal.

“This ground breaking research linking uterine endometriosis with impaired embryo implantation, plus the identification of an effective treatment, gives previously desperate couples some real hope of starting a family, A/Professor Tremellen said.

The finding has been hailed as a major breakthrough for women with the condition who are undergoing IVF in a bid to achieve their dream of having a baby.

Not all infertility is related to an inability to achieve conception - when an egg and sperm meet to create an embryo - but it also relates to difficulties in successful attachment and growth of the embryo to the uterine wall (endometrium).

A/Professor Tremellen explained that IVF does not treat implantation problems and is merely a way of creating an embryo.

“IVF was developed to bypass blocked fallopian tubes and assist fertilisation due to poor sperm quality, not assist implantation.

“Therefore in women with undiagnosed and untreated implantation failure, IVF will not work, despite beautiful quality embryos being transferred. This of course is extremely frustrating for patients and their doctors alike and this is why this breakthrough is so exciting.

“By now identifying a cause for failure of implantation of good quality embryos, plus an effective treatment, we can offer new hope to these couples.”

FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO ARRANGE INTERVIEWS CONTACT:
Repromed Marketing Manager Maryanne Chilman on (08) 8333 8111