Stem Cells as a Resource for Treatment of Infertility-related Diseases

Curr Mol Med. 2019;19(8):539-546. doi: 10.2174/1566524019666190709172636.

Abstract

Worldwide, infertility affects 8-12% of couples of reproductive age and has become a common problem. There are many ways to treat infertility, including medication, intrauterine insemination, and in vitro fertilization. In recent years, stem-cell therapy has raised new hope in the field of reproductive disability management. Stem cells are self-renewing, self-replicating undifferentiated cells that are capable of producing specialized cells under appropriate conditions. They exist throughout a human's embryo, fetal, and adult stages and can proliferate into different cells. While many issues remain to be addressed concerning stem cells, stem cells have undeniably opened up new ways to treat infertility. In this review, we describe past, present, and future strategies for the use of stem cells in reproductive medicine.

Keywords: ICSI; IUI; IVF; Infertility; World Health Organization (WHO); fertilization; stem cells..

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult Germline Stem Cells / transplantation
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cellular Reprogramming Techniques
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / transplantation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology
  • Infertility, Female / therapy*
  • Infertility, Male / therapy*
  • Male
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Oocytes / cytology
  • Ovary / cytology
  • Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / trends
  • Spermatocytes / cytology
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Stem Cells / classification
  • Stem Cells / cytology