Ongoing Primary Ovarian Insufficiency Projects and Research

• Correlation of serum levels of Bisphenol A (BPA) with pregnancy outcome-BPA is an environmental toxin and endocrine disruptor known to cause chromosomal abnormalities in mouse oocytes. Our project is looking at whether or not women who go on to miscarry chromosomally abnormal embryos have higher levels of BPA than women who have livebirths.
• Treatment options for poor responders-in vitro fertilization or conversion to intrauterine insemination. This study is to the best of our knowledge the largest to examine the relative benefit of IVF over conversion to IUI for women who develop low numbers of follicles during the course of a planned IVF cycle.
• A randomized trial of day 2 versus day 3 embryo transfer in poor responders. This ongoing trial led by one of our senior fellows is examining whether or not early transfer could potentially be beneficial for women with low response to gonadotropin.
• Embryo quality in women with low response to gonadotropin. This study is a careful assessment of embryo quality in women who have low response to gonadotropin. It will also examine variability in response.
• Dr. Renee Reijo-Pera and her colleagues at Stanford School of Medicine are working to better understand the factors that affect normal and abnormal oocyte development. The hope is that this work may allow the creation of oocytes from stem cells. Although a tremendous amount of work over many years will need to be done before any such oocytes could potentially be used to help a woman without eggs to have a child, it may be encouraging for women with POI to know the work that is being done. Women with POI, especially those with Turner syndrome, may also wish to volunteer to undergo a skin biopsy to further this research.
• We will soon be participating in an NIH-sponsored study to determine the frequency of Fragile X premutation carrier status in women diagnosed with POI because the exact frequency is not known.

Dr. Baker is working with colleagues across the country to develop a consortium of centers with special interest in POI.