Patent: Methods and Compositions for Enhancing or Maintaining Fertility

Earlier times witnessed women giving birth to five, six, seven or more babies and the numbers were only on the higher end of the spectrum many-a-time. This might be due to the unavailability of birth control methods and lack of awareness among the couples but it does verify one solid thing-couples during earlier days were fertile unlike now where the fertility rates have reduced tremendously and individuals opting for artificial birthing methods are on the rise. This is mainly due to our current way of lifestyle, diet patterns, eating habits, exercise routines and the effect of stress on our body.
​
The human body can be compared to a machine. A well-oiled machine performs its functions precisely and likewise, a well-maintained human body ensures effective working of its organs and systems. The human body works on daily, or circadian, as well as monthly and annual rhythms. Growth hormone (GH) is a small protein made by the pituitary gland and secreted into the bloodstream. The secretion of GH depends on a number of hormones that are produced in the hypothalamus of the brain, intestinal tract and pancreas. Also, GH is produced more during the night than daytime and production rates are inversely proportional to age - rates rise during childhood, attain peak during puberty and start declining from middle age. The GH secretion almost diminishes by 50% at the age of 40 compared to the quantity available at the age of 20, and by the age of 60 its only 1/3rd of what was present at the age of 20. Also, their secretion depends on various other factors such as age, gender and BMI.

The main function of the human growth hormone (hGH) is stimulation of growth, cell repair and regeneration. During adulthood hGH is mainly involved in cell regeneration and repair, regeneration of liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, bones and skin. hGH affects the sterility and fertility levels in human beings and low levels of these hormones promote ageing process and the early onset of diseases. When we find that hGH levels are lower than recommended it is possible to replenish lost levels in an injectable form but this was an option only for those who are rich enough to pay for this expensive shot. But scientists and researchers constantly keep researching to find out economical substitutes for all costly options and now, they have found substances that can trigger the release of hGH from a person’s own anterior pituitary gland and these substances are termed as secretagogues. There has also been evidence that intravenous (IV) administration of certain amino acids increase hGH levels.

Pregnancy brings in various changes in the woman’s body and there are a number of hormones which are secreted at this stage of life and the growth hormone is one of those that are found to be integral in different stages of pregnancy such as early antral follicle recruitment, subsequent follicular growth and oocyte maturation. Nowadays, fertilization using IVF has become very common but chances of pregnancy pregnant with IVF are not even close to 50% most of the times. Administering growth hormones during the ovarian stimulation phase of IVF increases this probability even higher than usual.

The invention patented here is a nutritional supplement that promotes the release of hGH. It might be an amino acid secretagogue composition that increases hGH secretion thereby helping the individual improve the chances of getting pregnant. hGH was monopolized by athletes sometime back as it enabled the formation of larger muscles, more energy production and improved performance. It also helps to reduce fat and build lean body mass.
The dosage of the hormone depends on the individual’s body condition and needs. The nutritional supplement formulated here might be administered once, twice or thrice a day, every alternate day or even once a week; administered on empty stomach and also regulated on its effects every once a while to have a positive effect on the individual. The patent was published on September 8th, 2016 and for a detailed explanation of the supplement invented please refer to any of the links given below:
​
United States Patent & Trademark Office: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=2&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=composition&s2=%22enhancing+fertility%22&OS=composition+AND+%22enhancing+fertility%22&RS=composition+AND+%22enhancing+fertility%22

European Patent Office: https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/originalDocument?FT=D&date=20190528&DB=&locale=en_EP&CC=US&NR=10300101B2&KC=B2&ND=4

World Intellectual Property Organization: https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=US177600663&_cid=P11-JXLN2C-43431-1