Overview
Female infertility due to oocyte meiotic arrest is a rare genetic condition that prevents women from having biological children. In a healthy reproductive cycle, egg cells (called oocytes) go through a process called meiosis — a special type of cell division that prepares the egg to be fertilized by sperm. In this condition, the eggs get 'stuck' partway through that process and cannot complete the division needed for fertilization to happen. This is sometimes called oocyte maturation arrest or meiotic arrest infertility. Women with this condition typically have normal menstrual cycles and appear healthy in most other ways. The problem is only discovered when they try to conceive, either naturally or through in vitro fertilization (IVF). During IVF, doctors retrieve eggs from the ovaries, but the eggs fail to mature properly in the lab and cannot be fertilized. This is often the first clear sign that something is wrong at the cellular level. The condition is caused by changes (mutations) in specific genes that control how eggs develop and divide. Several genes have been identified, including TUBB8, PATL2, CDC20, and others. There is currently no treatment that can fix the underlying genetic problem. However, some women may have options such as using donor eggs to achieve pregnancy. Genetic counseling is an important part of care, especially for women who want to understand their chances of passing the condition to future children.
Key symptoms:
Unable to get pregnant despite tryingEggs retrieved during IVF fail to mature or fertilizeNormal menstrual periods in most casesNormal hormone levels in most casesNo eggs reaching the final stage of maturation needed for fertilizationRepeated failed IVF cycles due to immature eggsNo other obvious physical symptoms in daily life
Clinical phenotype terms (6)— hover any for plain English
Autosomal recessive
Passed on when both parents carry the same gene change; often skips generations
Adult
Begins in adulthood (age 18 or older)
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Female infertility due to oocyte meiotic arrest.
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Specialists
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Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
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Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.Which specific gene or genes are causing my condition, and what does that mean for my treatment options?,Is donor egg IVF likely to work for me, and what are my chances of a successful pregnancy?,Should my sisters or other female relatives be tested for this condition?,Are there any clinical trials or new treatments I should know about?,What type of genetic counseling is available to help me and my partner understand our options?,Are there any modified IVF protocols that might work better for my specific genetic variant?,What mental health or emotional support resources do you recommend for people going through infertility?
Common questions about Female infertility due to oocyte meiotic arrest
What is Female infertility due to oocyte meiotic arrest?
Female infertility due to oocyte meiotic arrest is a rare genetic condition that prevents women from having biological children. In a healthy reproductive cycle, egg cells (called oocytes) go through a process called meiosis — a special type of cell division that prepares the egg to be fertilized by sperm. In this condition, the eggs get 'stuck' partway through that process and cannot complete the division needed for fertilization to happen. This is sometimes called oocyte maturation arrest or meiotic arrest infertility. Women with this condition typically have normal menstrual cycles and app
How is Female infertility due to oocyte meiotic arrest inherited?
Female infertility due to oocyte meiotic arrest follows a autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Female infertility due to oocyte meiotic arrest typically begin?
Typical onset of Female infertility due to oocyte meiotic arrest is adult. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.