Parthenogenesis is NOT a viable treatment for human infertility and is currently prohibited for reproductive purposes
Parthenogenesis cannot be used clinically to treat human infertility because there is no compelling scientific evidence that it is safe for human reproduction, and it is categorized as a currently prohibited research activity (Category 3A) until safety and ethical issues are resolved. 1
Why Parthenogenesis Cannot Treat Human Infertility
Fundamental Biological Limitations
Parthenogenetic embryos in mammals are inherently non-viable for producing offspring - they lack paternal genetic contribution and cannot develop into healthy humans, even though mammalian oocytes can undergo parthenogenetic activation under artificial stimuli 2
Human parthenogenetic embryos have abnormal chromosomal patterns - documented cases show genotypes like 48,XX with chromosomal duplications (e.g., +17, +17) that are incompatible with normal development 3
Parthenogenesis is not a natural form of reproduction in mammals - it represents a reproductive error rather than a viable pathway to offspring 2, 4
Current Regulatory Status
The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 2021 Guidelines explicitly address parthenogenesis in the context of fertility treatment:
Category 3A prohibition: The use of any gametes differentiated from human stem cells (including those that might undergo parthenogenesis) for human reproduction is currently not permitted 1
Research-only status: Parthenogenetic human embryos can only be created and studied in vitro for research purposes under Category 2 specialized review, but cannot be transferred to a uterus 1
Safety concerns remain unresolved: There is no compelling scientific evidence that in vitro gametogenesis (IVG) or parthenogenesis-related technologies are currently safe for human reproduction 1
What IS Available for Infertility Treatment
Established First-Line Options
For women: Embryo and oocyte cryopreservation (vitrification preferred) are established first-line fertility preservation methods 1
For men: Semen cryopreservation is the only established fertility preservation technique 1
For couples with unexplained or mild male factor infertility: Intrauterine insemination (IUI) with or without ovarian stimulation is recommended as first-line treatment 5
For patients lacking functional gametes: Donor gametes remain the only viable option, as there are no proven stem cell-based means to improve reproductive function 1
Future Potential (Not Current Reality)
Why Parthenogenesis Research Continues
Research tool only: Parthenogenesis serves as an experimental tool to study embryo development and may help address ethical concerns about using fertilized embryos for research 2
Spontaneous occurrence monitoring: When parthenogenetic embryos spontaneously develop during IVG research, investigators must report them for specialized ethics review 1
Distant future possibility: The ISSCR guidelines acknowledge that IVG technology "will have the potential for use in human reproduction once safety and efficacy is proven," but this remains theoretical 1
Critical Clinical Pitfall
Do not confuse research on parthenogenesis with clinical treatment options. Patients asking about parthenogenesis should be counseled that:
- It is not a form of assisted reproductive technology
- It cannot produce viable human offspring
- Established fertility treatments (IUI, IVF with donor gametes, cryopreservation) remain the only evidence-based options 1, 5
The ESHRE Special Interest Group in Stem Cells concluded definitively: "to date there are no proven stem cell-based means to improve reproductive function, either by producing functional gametes in vitro, or stimulating the resident stem cell population in the ovary to elicit de novo oocyte production" 1