Future of Fertility: Artificial Sperm & Ova?
Scientists a step closer to mimicking way human body creates sperm. Here Comes Artificial Sperm.
The future of infertility treatment could be positioned for a very sci-fi future, at least according to scientists in London.
In early 2018, researchers and scientists spoke at the annual Progress Educational Trust conference stating that they were close to being able to create artificial sperm and egg. Using stem cells, researchers say that they’re about “halfway” to being able to turn human skin cells into immature sperm. If the research and process continue to fruition, this would be a dramatic shift in the IVF community.
For example, two father households would be able to parent a child, as one partner’s cells could be used to create an artificial ovum. The same holds true for two mother households, as one mother could donate her skin cells to create artificial sperm.
The next level of research will see scientists studying if artificial genetic materials are more likely to lead to an increased presence of chromosomal abnormalities and defects.
Additionally, researchers will begin to tackle the tricky process of meiosis. During meiosis, embryotic cells morph into immature sperm cells. At current, researchers can track the process to four weeks into the eight-week process. By eight weeks, the cells, which were previously indeterminate to become either sperm or ova, will display which reproductive material that they will mature into.
Researchers are quick to limit excitement, however, stating that this potential reality is, at a minimum, at least ten years into the future. In interim, the prospect will have those in the assisted reproduction world considering the ethics of creating artificial biogenetics for this purpose. At the time of this article, it remains illegal for fertility clinics in Britain to use artificial sperm or ova to treat those suffering from infertility.
Posted by Dr. Kim Bergman in News on 12/06/18
Kim Bergman, PhD, a licensed psychologist of 26 years, has specialized in the area of gay and lesbian parenting, parenting by choice and third party assisted reproduction for over two decades. Dr. Bergman has created a comprehensive psychological screening, support and monitoring process for Intended Parents, Surrogates and Donors. She is the co-owner of Fertility Counseling Services and Growing Generations and is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the American Psychological Association, the Los Angeles County Psychological Association, the Lesbian and Gay Psychotherapy Association, and the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. She is on the national Emeritus board of the Family Equality Council. Dr. Bergman writes, teaches and speaks extensively on parenting by choice. Along with co-authors, she published “Gay Men Who Become Fathers via Surrogacy: The Transition to Parenthood” (Journal of GLBT Family Studies, April 2010). Dr. Bergman’s is the author of the upcoming book, Your Future Family: An Essential Guide to Assisted Reproduction (Red Wheel Press 2019). Dr. Bergman created her own family using third party assisted reproduction and she lives with her wife of 35 years. Her two daughters are in college.