As more individuals delay parenthood, issues with fertility become increasingly common, particularly for women over 35, where fertility begins to decline significantly. However, researchers involved in an ongoing clinical trial are investigating whether rapamycin, a drug commonly used in organ transplant patients, could extend women’s fertile years by up to five years.
Rapamycin, known for its ability to suppress the immune system and prevent organ rejection, has shown promise in animal studies for its anti-aging effects, including benefits to fertility. Studies in mice indicate that rapamycin can delay ovarian aging and potentially prolong reproductive lifespan by maintaining the ovarian reserve—the pool of primordial follicles from which eggs develop.
In the human body, women are born with a set number of these follicles, which gradually diminish over time until menopause occurs. The average age of menopause is 51, but variations exist, with some women experiencing early or premature menopause, impacting fertility.
Repurposing rapamycin from its original use, researchers conducted a pilot study involving 50 perimenopausal women aged 35-45. Over three months, participants received either rapamycin or a placebo, with their ovarian reserve monitored through ultrasound and hormonal tests. Early findings from the study suggest that rapamycin may decrease ovarian aging by 20%, potentially extending fertility by around five years without observable side effects.
Key mechanisms observed in mice studies indicate that rapamycin may limit the recruitment and activation of primordial follicles each menstrual cycle, thereby preserving the ovarian reserve. These insights have prompted the research team to advance to the next phase, aiming to recruit 1,000 women to validate initial findings and assess long-term impacts.
While the initial study’s cohort size was limited, the promising results suggest a pathway for further investigation into rapamycin’s role in mitigating ovarian aging and potentially offering new avenues for fertility treatments. Should ongoing and future trials confirm its efficacy and safety, rapamycin could represent a groundbreaking development for women seeking to maintain or prolong their reproductive capacity.
This exploration of rapamycin highlights the broader potential of repurposing existing drugs to address women’s health needs, underscoring ongoing efforts to innovate and improve fertility treatments.
