Epigenetics plays a key role
Techniques such as egg donation (IVF with donor eggs) allow many women with fertility issues or ovarian disorders to have a biological child, even though the baby doesn’t share their DNA.
This phenomenon has significant implications for assisted reproductive techniques
In recent years, the concept of epigenetics has gained significant importance in the field of assisted reproduction, offering a new perspective on how babies born through techniques like egg donation can resemble their gestational mothers.
Epigenetics, although it does not alter an individual’s genetic code, plays a crucial role in how genes are expressed, influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors. This phenomenon has significant implications, not only in understanding genetic inheritance but also in how assisted reproduction techniques can produce babies who, though genetically different, share traits with their gestational mothers.
Dr. Elisa Pérez, a specialist in assisted reproduction and medical director of the Basque Fertility Institute, IVF-Life Donostia, explains that epigenetics “refers to changes in genetic expression that do not involve alterations to the DNA sequence. These changes can be triggered by environmental factors such as diet, stress, or exposure to chemicals.” Epigenetic mechanisms can activate or deactivate genes without altering the original genetic code. These changes can be temporary or, in some cases, inheritable, meaning that a mother’s habits, customs, and experiences can influence her children’s genetics, even if the genetic material does not come from her.
However, epigenetics is not limited to factors affecting the mother during pregnancy. Studies suggest that the gestational mother’s lifestyle before and during pregnancy also impacts the expression of the baby’s genes. A healthy diet, regular exercise, proper stress management, and avoiding harmful substances like tobacco and alcohol are factors that influence epigenetics and, therefore, the baby’s development.
“Epigenetics is a reminder that the health of the environment and the experiences lived by the mother can even have a genetic impact,” says Dr. Pérez, who adds, “Although a baby born through egg donation does not share the DNA of the gestational mother, epigenetic factors during pregnancy and the early years of life, along with education and environmental factors, cause the child to develop similarities with her in terms of characteristics and health.”
Egg donation is an assisted reproduction technique where the gestational mother does not provide her own egg, but rather an anonymous donor egg is fertilized with the father’s sperm. “This procedure has allowed many women with fertility issues or ovarian disorders to have a biological child in terms of pregnancy, although the child does not share their DNA,” according to Dr. Pérez.
However, even though babies born through egg donation have different DNA from the gestational mother, epigenetics plays a crucial role. “Epigenetics is a fascinating field because it can explain how gestational mothers can influence their children, even when they don’t share their DNA. The conditions in which the gestational mother lives can modify how certain genes in the baby are expressed, making the child resemble her, both physically and in terms of gestures or behavior,” adds Dr. Pérez.
At IVF-Life, 9 out of 10 patients using egg donation achieve pregnancy, making this technique a safe and highly effective procedure for many women who have difficulty conceiving due to issues related to egg quality.
“Safety is one of our main concerns. Egg donors undergo extensive health testing, and medical monitoring throughout the egg donation process ensures that both the donor and the recipient are protected at all times,” says Dr. Elisa Pérez. Additionally, egg donation is a highly controlled process involving the selection of donors who meet strict health and well-being criteria, minimizing risks for the women who opt for this technique.
For gestational mothers, egg donation offers an opportunity to fully experience pregnancy. Despite not providing their genetic material, these women can live through the gestation process, with all the emotional and physical bonds it entails.
The Basque Fertility Institute, known as IVF-Life Donostia, was founded almost a decade ago and, since its inception, has grown significantly and become a reference in the field of assisted reproduction in the Basque Country. It is part of the IVF-Life group, which has over 15 years of experience and more than 10,000 life projects fulfilled, making it a leading center for reproductive medicine in Europe.
With clinics in cities such as Alicante, Madrid, and Donostia, the group is known for its commitment to innovation, medical excellence, and comprehensive patient care, achieving success rates that exceed the national average.
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