In what raises hopes of infertile women becoming mothers and allowing those healthy to put their motherhood on hold without worrying
about menopause,scientists have discovered a way to create eggs in sterile ovaries.

A team at Jiao Tong University in Shanghai has used the technique which involves transplanting stem cells into the ovaries to produce new eggs in infertile women or women who’ve passed the usual age of conception. And, when fertilised, the eggs can result in the birth of healthy young, according to the scientists.

“These cells can be used to extend female reproductive lifespan. The generation of new oocytes (eggs) could postpone normal or premature ovarian failure or be used in treatment of infertility,” team’s leader Ji Wu said.

In their study on laboratory mice, the scientists isolated a small number of female germline stem cells (FGSCs) from the ovaries of adult rodents and transplanted them into infertile mice. Eventually the mice gave birth to offspring.

“The technique has the potential to restore fertility after cancer treatment and treat infertility, including early menopause,” Wu said.