Women have around two million egg-producing follicles in their ovaries when they are born. But by the time they reach puberty the number has fallen to about 400,000. The number of follicles continues to fall until her menopause, at which point she will no longer be able to produce a mature egg capable of being fertilized.
However the researchers discovered that ovarian stem cells could develop into new eggs. After an intricate harvesting and cultivating process the stem cells went on to become mature human eggs capable of being fertilized and developing into an embryo.
Professor Antonin Bukovsky, who led the research and is editor-in-chief of Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, wrote, "Development of numerous mature oocytes (eggs) from adult ovarian stem cells in vitro (in the laboratory) offers new strategies for the egg preservation, IVF utilisation, and treatment of female infertility."
Leading Experts caution that the findings are still in the early stages.
