Can a woman achieve pregnancy without fertilization (virgin birth/parthenogenesis)?

Virgin Birth in Humans: Current Scientific Understanding

No, a woman cannot achieve pregnancy resulting in a live birth through parthenogenesis (virgin birth) in humans. While human oocytes can be artificially activated to undergo parthenogenetic development in laboratory settings, these parthenogenetic embryos are fundamentally incapable of developing to term and producing a viable human being.

Biological Reality of Human Parthenogenesis

Laboratory Activation vs. Natural Reproduction

• Human oocytes can be artificially activated in vitro to mimic the calcium wave normally triggered by sperm at fertilization, initiating cleavage divisions and early embryonic development 1, 2
• These parthenogenetic embryos invariably arrest at various developmental stages and cannot develop to term, primarily due to genomic imprinting that requires both maternal and paternal genetic contributions 2
• Parthenogenesis occurs naturally as a reproductive strategy only in lower organisms and some vertebrates (certain lizards, snakes, and birds), but is not a form of natural reproduction in mammals 1, 3, 4

Critical Developmental Limitations

• Parthenogenetic human embryos lack paternally expressed genes that are essential for proper placental development and fetal growth 2
• The absence of the sperm centriole creates additional developmental challenges, as parthenotes must regenerate complete and functional centrosomes without paternal contribution 2
• Parthenogenetic cell lines demonstrate intrinsic deregulation of mechanisms controlling proliferation versus differentiation, preventing normal organismal development 2

Regulatory and Ethical Framework

Current Research Guidelines

• The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 2021 guidelines classify parthenogenetic human embryos as requiring Category 2 review (specialized scientific and ethics oversight) for research purposes 5
• Transfer of any human embryo, including parthenogenetic embryos, to a human or animal uterus for gestation is categorized as prohibited research (Category 3B) due to lack of scientific rationale and ethical concerns 5
• Parthenogenetic embryos are proposed as experimental tools for research specifically because they cannot form viable individuals, making them less ethically controversial than fertilized embryos 1

Future Technologies Under Development

• In vitro gametogenesis (IVG) research has made progress in creating gamete-like cells from stem cells, with the theoretical possibility of spontaneous parthenogenetic activation 5
• IVG for human reproductive purposes remains categorically prohibited (Category 3A) until safety and ethical issues are resolved, as there is no compelling scientific evidence that it is currently safe 5
• Even if IVG technology advances, any resulting parthenogenetic embryos would face the same fundamental developmental limitations as naturally activated parthenotes 5

Clinical Implications

Common Misconceptions to Address

• Facultative parthenogenesis (switching between sexual and clonal reproduction) has only been documented in captive non-mammalian vertebrates and has never been confirmed in humans or other mammals 3
• Claims of "virgin births" in humans invariably represent either misunderstanding of reproductive biology, undisclosed sexual contact, or extremely rare cases of chimerism/genetic mosaicism unrelated to parthenogenesis 3

Fertility Preservation Context

• For women requiring fertility preservation, established methods include oocyte cryopreservation and embryo cryopreservation, both of which require eventual fertilization with sperm for reproduction 5, 6
• Ovarian tissue cryopreservation preserves primordial follicles that must still undergo normal sexual reproduction to produce offspring 5, 6

Bottom Line

Human reproduction absolutely requires genetic contribution from both male and female gametes. While parthenogenetic activation of human oocytes is scientifically possible in controlled laboratory conditions, these embryos cannot and will not develop into viable human beings due to fundamental requirements for biparental genomic imprinting 1, 2. Any future reproductive technologies, including IVG, would still require either natural fertilization or artificial combination of male and female genetic material to produce a developmentally competent embryo capable of resulting in live birth 5.