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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Science
Hannah Devlin Science correspondent

Human eggs ‘rejuvenated’ in an advance that could boost IVF success rates

Microscope view of the artificial insemination of an egg
Eggs given microinjections of the protein were found to be almost half as likely to show a defect compared with untreated eggs. Photograph: David Gregs/Alamy

Scientists claim to have “rejuvenated” human eggs for the first time in an advance that they predict could revolutionise IVF success rates for older women.

The groundbreaking research suggests that an age-related defect that causes genetic errors in embryos could be reversed by supplementing eggs with a crucial protein. When eggs donated by fertility patients were given microinjections of the protein, they were almost half as likely to show the defect compared with untreated eggs.

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