The role of menstrual stem cells in premature ovarian failure and Asherman’s Syndrome : a systematic review

Abstract

A new population of stem cells have recently been discovered within the menstrual fluid. These cells exhibit fibroblast-like morphology and meet the minimum criteria for stem cell classification as stipulated by the International Society for Cellular Therapy. Menstrual-derived stem cells (MenSC) exhibit mesenchymal stem cell characteristics, high proliferation and multilineage differentiation potential. MenSC are derived from endometrial cell populations which, together with a large part of the endometrium, are sloughed from the endometrium during the menstrual phase of the uterine cycle. MenSC are cyclically available in large numbers and can be obtained non-invasively and cheaply. Furthermore, MenSC are not limited by ethical dilemmas since they are obtained from menstrual blood which is considered a clinical waste. These attributes make MenSC an attractive alternative to other conventionally used adult stem cells and consequently have attracted substantial interest in the field of gynaecology and regenerative medicine. This systematic review will focus on the potential role of MenSC particularly in premature ovarian failure and Asherman’s syndrome.