Innovation helps recover fertility after cancer

Medicine advances, and with it, the possibilities of rebuilding the lives of those women who have faced cancer and its treatments, recovering the hope of being mothers. Today, as the month dedicated to cancer is about to end, it is possible to remember that, through bioengineering, science is providing solutions that not only improve the quality of life, but also can restore fertilitya fundamental part of their vital projects.

As part of these advances, there is a key field of research focused on the creation of organs in the laboratory. Three-dimensional models that allow us to have a more precise vision of how human organs function and how they react to pathologies or treatments, which allows us to develop more personalized and effective therapies. This is the case of the works presented by the doctor and researcher Irene Cervelló and her team at Fundación IVI, who are at the forefront of a revolution in reproductive regeneration.

One of the most promising advances in reproductive bioengineering is the creation of human ovarian organoids. These small organs, which mimic the shape and function of a healthy ovary, are obtained from cryopreserved ovarian tissue, donated by women who decided to preserve their fertility before starting oncological treatments. In many cases, they no longer need to use the tissue to conceive, but science now offers them a second chance: to restore lost fertility.

An innovation that, as highlighted by Dr. Cervelló, principal researcher of the group of “Stem Cells and Uterine Bioengineering”, It is crucial for many women who have suffered ovarian damage from treatments such as chemotherapy. “This innovation represents an important first step towards the creation of a three-dimensional model of the human ovary,” he describes.

In the field of uterine regeneration, advances are also notable. Recent research in the field of extracellular matrix hybrid hydrogels is opening new doors for uterine tissue regeneration in women. Dr. Cervelló also focuses on different pathologies that put fertility at risk. “We have experience in endometrial pathologies, such as Asherman syndrome, thin endometrium or endometrial atrophy, where there is a need to regenerate functional tissue,” he says.

REGENERATIVE MEDICINE

The path to restoring fertility after cancer is closer thanks to scientific advances. These studies not only open new possibilities for women who have lost their fertility due to cancer treatment, but they also bring us closer to personalized and regenerative medicine, which has the power to transform lives and restore hope to many women who dream of being mothers.

In the doctor’s own words, “in the future, this type of model could allow the study of the development of follicles and open new avenues to preserve or restore fertility in patients who have received oncological treatments.”