title: Stem cells in reproductive medicine: ready for the patient?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Are there effective and clinically validated stem cell-based therapies for reproductive diseases?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At the moment, clinically validated stem cell treatments for reproductive diseases and alterations are not available.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Research in stem cells and regenerative medicine is growing in scope, and its translation to the clinic is heralded by the recent initiation of controlled clinical trials with pluripotent derived cells. Unfortunately, stem cell 'treatments' are currently offered to patients outside of the controlled framework of scientifically sound research and regulated clinical trials. Both physicians and patients in reproductive medicine are often unsure about stem cells therapeutic options.
  
  
  METHODS
  An international working group was assembled to review critically the available scientific literature in both the human species and animal models.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review includes work published in English until December 2014, and available through Pubmed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A few areas of research in stem cell and reproductive medicine were identified: in vitro gamete production, endometrial regeneration, erectile dysfunction amelioration, vaginal reconstruction. The stem cells studied range from pluripotent (embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells) to monopotent stem cells, such as spermatogonial stem cells or mesenchymal stem cells. The vast majority of studies have been carried out in animal models, with data that are preliminary at best.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review was not conducted in a systematic fashion, and reports in publications not indexed in Pubmed were not analyzed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A much broader clinical knowledge will have to be acquired before translation to the clinic of stem cell therapies in reproductive medicine; patients and physicians should be wary of unfounded claims of improvement of existing medical conditions; at the moment, effective stem cell treatment for reproductive diseases and alterations is not available.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  None.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NA.
authors.affiliation: Clinica EUGIN, Barcelona, Spain rvassena@eugin.es.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vassena
authors.affiliation: Cell Therapy and Stem Cell Laboratory, Basque Center for Transfusion and Human Tissues, Galdakao, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eguizabal
authors.affiliation: Ghent-Fertility and Stem Cell Team (G-FaST), Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heindryckx
authors.affiliation: Research Group Reproduction and Genetics, Vrije Universtiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sermon
authors.affiliation: Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad (FIVI), and Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Valencia University & INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A M M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van Pelt
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Service, Hospital Universitari Quiron Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain Stem Cell Bank, Centre for Regenerative Medicine of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veiga
authors.affiliation: Research Group Reproduction and Genetics, Vrije Universtiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium S.I.S.Me.R. Reproductive Medicine Unit, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zambelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells; D018456:Reproductive Medicine / Q000379:methods*
keywords: artificial gametes; assisted reproduction; regenerative medicine; stem cells