The British government is reviewing its ban on the use of artificial sperm or eggs to induce human pregnancies, the country's Health Department announced on Sunday.

In a statement, the department said it recognizes the potential uses in assisted reproduction treatments, or in embryo research, for sperm or eggs derived from other cells.

For example, in cases where a man is unable to produce sperm naturally, the development of artificial gametes could allow him to father a child.

British law currently allows the creation of so-called "artificial gametes" - sperm or eggs derived from other types of cells such as stem cells - for research but has restricted their use in assisted reproduction due to safety and ethical concerns.

The proposed review could spell relief for the increasing number of fertility-challenged couples in the region.

Over the last few years, scientists have created egg and sperm precursor cells from embryonic mouse cells, raising the possibility that researchers might someday be able to manufacture human sperm and egg cells as well.