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Health Briefs
August 29, 1996
Web posted at: 11:55 p.m. EDT
Study: Gene may explain some cases of female infertility
ATLANTA (CNN) -- Findings in this week's journal Science may shed light on some cases of infertility that doctors can't now explain. In one-third of infertility cases, doctors are not sure of the cause.
Dr. Jeffrey Milbrandt from Washington University School of Medicine told CNN that a gene called NGFI-A may be responsible for causing infertility in some women.
In studies with mice, Milbrandt found that the gene regulates a hormone called LH (luteinizing hormone). LH causes women to ovulate.
Milbrandt speculates that a lack of the gene or a mutated gene could prevent ovulation. Although there are hormonal treatments available to help some women ovulate, this finding could spur more research into treatments.
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