Gene variation linked to infertility in women, study finds A
variation in a gene involved in regulating cholesterol in the
bloodstream also appears to affect progesterone production in
women, making it a likely culprit in a substantial number of
cases of their infertility, a new study from Johns Hopkins
researchers suggests. The Hopkins group has also developed a
simple blood test for this variation of the scavenger receptor
class B type 1 gene (SCARB1) but emphasized there is no approved
therapy yet to address the problem in infertile women. Following
up studies in female mice that first linked a deficiency in
these receptors for HDL the so-called "good" or "healthy"
cholesterol and infertility, researchers report finding the same
link in studies of women with a history of infertility. If the
new study's findings hold up on further investigation, the John
Hopkins team says they not only will offer clues into a genetic
cause of some infertility, but could also lead to a treatment
already shown to work in mice