Infertility and its causes
The reproductive disorders that cause infertility not only lead to huge personal distress, but also have wide-ranging socio-economic impacts. As yet, their underlying causes are poorly defined in both humans and animals, making it difficult to develop strategies for prevention and treatment.
Improving our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying reproductive disorders is critical to the development of tomorrow’s novel therapeutic techniques. Our infertility research team is rising to this challenge, investigating the diverse factors that can adversely impact both male and female reproductive success.
Spotlight project
Understanding luteal angiogenesis
Ovulation releases the oocyte for fertilisation, but it also marks a period of dramatic development within the ovary. It is when the corpus luteum is formed – an element essential for progesterone production and the successful establishment of pregnancy.
The corpus luteum is one of the very few structures in the body which undergoes dramatic cyclical growth and regression, and it relies on intense angiogenesis to create a highly complex vascular system. We have developed novel cell culture systems to investigate the molecular mechanisms that drive luteal angiogenesis. These are showing us how angiogenesis might be disrupted, resulting in poor luteal function and diminished fertility.
Read about Dr Katie Woad’s award-winning work on infertility