In Vitro Gametogenesis in Oncofertility: A Review of Its Potential Use and Present-Day Challenges in Moving toward Fertility Preservation and Restoration

Wesevich, Victoria G.; Arkfeld, Christopher; Seifer, David B.

doi:10.3390/jcm12093305

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

In Vitro Gametogenesis in Oncofertility: A Review of Its Potential Use and Present-Day Challenges in Moving toward Fertility Preservation and Restoration

by

Victoria G. Wesevich

^1,*,

Christopher Arkfeld

²

and

David B. Seifer

¹

Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA

²

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT 06510, USA

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(9), 3305; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12093305

Submission received: 20 March 2023 / Revised: 12 April 2023 / Accepted: 25 April 2023 / Published: 6 May 2023

(This article belongs to the Section Obstetrics & Gynecology)

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Abstract

Current fertility preservation options are limited for cancer survivor patients who wish to have their own biological children. Human in vitro gametogenesis (IVG) has the hypothetical ability to offer a unique solution to individuals receiving treatment for cancer which subsequently shortens their reproductive lifespan. Through a simple skin punch biopsy, a patient’s fertility could be restored via reprogramming of dermal fibroblast cells to induced pluripotent stem cells, then from primordial germ cell-like cells into viable oocytes and spermatocytes which could be used for embryogenesis. Induced pluripotent stem cells could also be used to form in vitro environments, similar to the ovary or testes, necessary for the maturation of oogonia. This would allow for the entire creation of embryos outside the body, ex vivo. While this area in stem cell biology research offers the potential to revolutionize reproduction as we know it, there are many critical barriers, both scientific and ethical, that need to be overcome to one day see this technology utilized clinically.

Keywords: oncofertility; fertility preservation; in vitro gametogenesis; induced pluripotent stem cells; assisted reproductive technology; medical ethics; reproductive rights

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MDPI and ACS Style

Wesevich, V.G.; Arkfeld, C.; Seifer, D.B. In Vitro Gametogenesis in Oncofertility: A Review of Its Potential Use and Present-Day Challenges in Moving toward Fertility Preservation and Restoration. J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12, 3305. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12093305

AMA Style

Wesevich VG, Arkfeld C, Seifer DB. In Vitro Gametogenesis in Oncofertility: A Review of Its Potential Use and Present-Day Challenges in Moving toward Fertility Preservation and Restoration. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2023; 12(9):3305. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12093305

Chicago/Turabian Style

Wesevich, Victoria G., Christopher Arkfeld, and David B. Seifer. 2023. "In Vitro Gametogenesis in Oncofertility: A Review of Its Potential Use and Present-Day Challenges in Moving toward Fertility Preservation and Restoration" Journal of Clinical Medicine 12, no. 9: 3305. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12093305

APA Style

Wesevich, V. G., Arkfeld, C., & Seifer, D. B. (2023). In Vitro Gametogenesis in Oncofertility: A Review of Its Potential Use and Present-Day Challenges in Moving toward Fertility Preservation and Restoration. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(9), 3305. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12093305

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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In Vitro Gametogenesis in Oncofertility: A Review of Its Potential Use and Present-Day Challenges in Moving toward Fertility Preservation and Restoration

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