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Unique Genetic profile Helps over-45's Get pregnant

(from the 21st annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, Copenhagen, Denmark, June 21, 2005.)

Dr. Neri Laufer, from Haddassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel, told the conference that his team's work to identify a specific gene expression profile linked to later fertility. 250 women over 45, who conceived spontaneously, were studied. Using gene chip technology, the scientists found that blood samples from the 8 women had a unique pattern of gene expression that did not exist in te control group.

The two main groups of genes expressed in these women were involved in apoptosis (cell death) and in DNA repair mechanisms.

"These women appear to differ from the normal population due to a unique genetic predisposition that protects them from the DNA damage and cellular aging that helps age the ovary" said Dr. Laufer, Cherie Blair, the wife of prime minister of Britain, was 45 when she had baby Leo in 2000, one of our patients became pregnant unexpectedly at 46.