The goal of IVG is to take cells from a person’s blood or skin, reprogram them to an embryonic-like pluripotent state (in which they are known as induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells), and then coax the iPS cells to become eggs or sperm that can be used in IVF procedures. The allure of IVG is that there is no limit to the number of pluripotent cells, and thus the number of potential eggs and sperm, that can be made.
- IVG for opposite-sex reproduction : Nowadays, IVF is most commonly used method to treat infertility but some people lack the internal capacity to produce any gametes or lack so few functioning gametes that establishing a pregnancy is nearly impossible. IVG will provide a novel treatment for such cases.
- IVG for same sex reproduction : Compared with alternative family-building options currently available to same sex couple, IVG is unique as it could enable both partners to be the genetic parents of the resulting child. This benefit would apply to both same-sex male and female couples.