Rapamycin for Ovarian Aging: Can It Delay Menopause?

Women are born with approximately 2 million immature eggs in their ovaries. Every month, one or more of these eggs begin to mature. When the supply of immature eggs is depleted, menopause occurs.

But, there’s also a natural decline in egg quantity (atresian) and quality as women age. While this process can’t be stopped or reversed, it may be possible to slow it down.

Rapamycin and reproductive health, specifically ovarian age, have recently been linked. It may be able to extend ovarian health and delay menopause.

Rapamycin for ovarian health

Research is underway linking rapamycin treatment with a delay ovarian aging and promotion of reproductive health in women. Emerging studies suggest that rapamycin can have lasting benefits on ovarian health, even with short-term treatment.

While more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of rapamycin for ovarian aging, the initial findings are encouraging.

How rapamycin affects ovarian aging

As an mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin targets a key pathway involved in cell growth, metabolism, and aging. By inhibiting this process, rapamycin has many ovarian health benefits, including:

Support Cell Regeneration. Rapamycin can reduce cellular senescence, a process where cells lose their ability to divide and function effectively, which is often accelerated in aging ovaries.
Preservation of Primordial Follicles. Typically, dozens of eggs are lost each month outside of ovulation. Rapamycin appears to slow down this loss by preventing the activation of primordial follicles (immature egg reserves) and reducing the number of developing follicles.

Rapamycin fertility benefits

Temporary use of rapamycin has shown to have positive effects on ovarian lifespan. It helps reduce the number of eggs lost each month, enhances the quality of those eggs, and promotes overall ovarian health, which can support fertility as women age.

As women get older, their ability to conceive naturally declines, typically starting around age 32, with a more significant drop after age 37. In their 20s, women have a 25% chance of getting pregnant each month. That falls below 10% by 35 and 5% by 40.

A recent pilot study, Validating Benefits of Rapamycin for Reproductive Aging Treatment (VIBRANT), found that a weekly dose of 5-mg of rapamycin could delay ovarian aging by 20%, potentially extending a woman’s fertility by five years.

Rapamycin menopause delay

The same rapamycin fertility benefits that can extend a woman’s reproductive years can also delay menopause. Menopause begins when the ovaries are depleted of immature eggs.

This delay in ovarian aging can also help to delay menopause. Although delaying menopause might sound beneficial, it actually doesn’t come with health benefits. In fact, menopause can lower a woman’s risk of certain health issues.

Discuss rapamycin for ovarian aging with your doctor

If you’re worried about early menopause or want to extend your fertile years, it might be worth discussing rapamycin with your doctor. Heally can connect you with knowledgeable healthcare professionals from the comfort of your home, making it easy and convenient to get the information you need.