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In-Vitro Gametogenesis (IVG): How Science May Turn Skin Cells into Eggs and Sperm

ByTarin Hussain
Updated: 21 Nov 2025, 5:00 pm

What if having a baby could start with just a small sample of your skin? That’s the idea behind in-vitro gametogenesis (IVG). Scientists are working on ways to turn skin cells into eggs or sperm, offering new hope for people who face fertility challenges. This could open doors for single parents or those who have lost their fertility due to age or illness. IVG is still being developed, but the possibilities are exciting.

Pregatips
In-vitro gametogenesis, or IVG, is a concept that sounds like science fiction but is slowly becoming a real possibility. Imagine creating eggs or sperm from skin cells, all outside the body. It’s a bold idea that could change how people think about fertility, parenthood, and even ageing. It’s still in the research phase, but the science behind it is moving fast.
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Unlike traditional methods, IVG allows scientists to create eggs and sperm from regular body cells like skin, hair, or blood. This breakthrough could help many people have biological children. IVG is not something you’ll find in a clinic tomorrow, but it’s no longer just a distant dream either. It’s a glimpse into what might be possible in the world of reproduction. As IVG develops, it may also deepen our understanding of the types of stem cells involved in reproductive science and how they can be used for the treatment of stem cells.


What is In-Vitro Gametogenesis (IVG)?

IVG is a cutting-edge reproductive technology that creates eggs and sperm from stem cells. These stem cells can come from simple sources like your skin or blood. Once these lab-made eggs or IVG sperm are created, they can be fertilised to form an embryo and then placed in a womb to grow into a baby. This is different from in vitro fertilisation (IVF), which uses eggs and sperm that already exist in the body or from donors. IVG is still in its early stages, but it’s showing great promise. Scientists in Japan have already used IVG to create baby mice from stem cells.


How Does In-Vitro Gametogenesis Process Work?

The process of IVG is interesting but complex. It starts with taking a regular body cell, like a skin cell, and turning it into a stem cell. These stem cells are then guided to become eggs or IVG sperm in a lab — a significant leap in the treatment of stem cells. One method used by researchers in the US involves a technique called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). This is how it works:

  • A skin cell’s nucleus is placed into an egg that has had its nucleus removed.
  • The egg’s cytoplasm (the jelly-like substance inside) helps the skin cell nucleus turn into an egg with a single set of chromosomes.
  • This new egg is fertilised with sperm to create an embryo with genes from both parents.

This method skips the long process of reprogramming cells, which can take months and sometimes cause genetic issues. Researchers are now planning to test this in human eggs and early embryos, but it’s not ready for regular use yet.




Why IVG Could Be a Game-Changer for India

India faces unique fertility challenges, and in vitro gametogenesis could offer solutions for many. Women in India are seeing their reproductive age decline earlier than in Western countries. Men’s sperm quality has also dropped significantly over the past few years and could reach very low levels in the coming decades. India’s population has fallen below the replacement level of 2.1, which is the average number of children each woman needs to have to keep the population stable. But IVG could help address these issues:
  • IVG could help infertile couples have children using their own genes.
  • It may allow older women to become mothers without worrying about egg quality.
  • It could reduce the need for donor eggs or sperm, giving couples more control.
IVG removes the limits of age or fertility problems by creating eggs and sperm from a person’s own cells. This could be a big step forward for Indian families wanting biological children and could expand the scope of the treatment of stem cells.


Benefits of IVG for Reproductive Medicine

IVG has the potential to transform how we approach fertility treatments. It could make parenthood possible for groups who currently face barriers. These are some key benefits:

  • More embryos: IVG can create many eggs and increase the chances of successful IVF cycles.
  • Reduced health risks: Women won’t need invasive egg retrieval procedures, which carry risks like infections.
  • Research opportunities: Extra gametes from IVG could help scientists study infertility and develop new treatments, especially by understanding the types of stem cells used to create eggs and sperm.

For example, women over 40 often struggle with IVF because their eggs have a higher chance of abnormal chromosomes. IVG could produce healthy eggs and reduce the risk of birth defects or the need for multiple IVF cycles.


Ethical Concerns Surrounding IVG

IVG might be beneficial in many cases but it also raises important ethical questions. Creating life in a lab can lead to complex issues that need careful thought. These are some common concerns:

  • Designer babies: in vitro gametogenesis could allow parents to choose traits like eye colour or intelligence, raising fears of “made-to-order” children.
  • Misuse of technology: There’s a risk of creating many embryos to select the “best” one, which could reduce genetic diversity.
  • Reproductive cloning: IVG might lead to cloning, where one person provides both egg and sperm.
  • Genetic safety: Scientists need to make sure lab-made gametes don’t carry harmful mutations that could affect future generations.

Doctors suggest strict regulations to allow IVG for medical benefits while banning unethical uses like selecting non-medical traits.


Legal and Regulatory Challenges

IVG is so new that most countries, including India, don’t have laws for it yet. India’s Assisted Reproduction Technology (Regulation) Act 2021 covers IVF but doesn’t mention IVG. IVF is allowed only for married heterosexual couples and single women who are above the age of 21. The law has also placed age caps at 50 for women and 55 for men. IVG could fit within this law since it uses the parents’ own cells, but same-sex couples may face barriers unless marriage laws change.

In other countries like the UK, laws don’t allow in vitro gametogenesis embryos to be used in reproduction yet. Research on human embryos is also limited, which slows down IVG development. Clear laws are needed to ensure IVG is used safely and fairly.


Scientific and Technical Hurdles

IVG is still in the experimental stage and there are challenges to overcome before it’s ready for humans. Mice have been born using IVG, but human cells are harder to work with. This is what scientists are facing:
  • Complex development: Turning human cells into functional eggs or sperm is a tricky process that isn’t fully understood.
  • Genetic mutations: Reprogramming cells can cause genetic errors, which could lead to health issues in children.
  • Long testing period: Even if IVG works in labs soon, it will take years of testing to make sure it’s safe for human use.
Some experts believe IVG could be ready in two years, while others think it might take a decade or more. Either way, it’s not something you’ll see in clinics right away.


The Cost of IVG

IVG is likely to be expensive at first because it’s a new and complex technology. However, costs could come down as it becomes more common. The demand could make IVG more affordable over time with India’s large population of infertile couples. Currently, only about 1 per cent of infertile couples seek treatment, so IVG could open doors for many more families.

In vitro gametogenesis is a new and promising technology that could help people facing fertility problems. It could help India tackle its declining birth rates and support couples who dream of having biological children. However, it’s still a developing technology with scientific, ethical, and legal hurdles to cross. Public awareness and discussions are important to make sure IVG is used responsibly.
Whether you’re trying to conceive or navigating IVF, you’re not alone. Join our supportive communities to connect, share, and find strength with others on the same journey.

FAQs on Could Science Help You Make Eggs and Sperm from Skin: In-Vitro Gametogenesis (IVG)


  1. Is it possible to artificially create sperm?
    Yes, scientists have created sperm-like cells in lab studies, mainly using stem cells from mice. This is still in the early stages, but it shows that artificial sperm could be possible in the future with more research.
  2. How long will it take for in vitro gametogenesis to become available?
    IVG is still in the experimental stage and not yet approved for use in humans. Experts believe it could take around 10 to 20 years before it becomes safe, effective, and available for clinical use.
Medically Reviewed By:
Medically approved by Dr Shaily Sharma, Consultant Gynaecologist, Cloudnine hospital, Faridabad