Postponing Menopause Forever Is Possible Now?

Researchers Present Findings That May Delay Menopause

Here's some VERY exciting news for women looking to have children later in life (possibly); An international team of researchers presenting at the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology in Istanbul this week claims to have discovered a way to put menopause on hold indefinitely - allowing women to bear children several years, even decades, past the normal expectancy.

Theoretically, here's how it would work:

A piece of a woman's ovary would be removed, stored away, then carefully transplanted back years later. The replaced ovary part would then hopefully stimulate the existing tissue and act as a catalyst to rejuvenate the entire organ, making it fertile again.

Does that mean women could put off child-bearing into their 60's, 70's or even 80's? Right now, researchers say the longest transplant that has resulted in a healthy child has been eight years after the initial removal.

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Of course, as with every medical procedure, there are potential positive and negative side effects. Women can avoid the "increased risk of osteoporosis and heart disease that come with the end of their fertile life," says Stephen Adams at Britain's Telegraph. However, with increased estrogen levels later in life, the risk of breast and uterine cancer may rise as well.

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As fascinating as the prospect is, researchers warn it could be 10-15 years before the procedure is approved as a replacement to hormone therapy.

Until then, the likes of Rod Stewart will have to suffice as the norm when it comes to really old parents.