Women who thought their time had run out may get a second chance. Scientists developed a technique that converts DNA from skin cells into human eggs. Those eggs can produce embryos.

Researchers at Oregon Health and Science University created early-stage human embryos. They took DNA from skin cells. They fertilized the eggs with sperm.

The experimental technique is still in its infancy. But the possibilities are enormous.

Older women who have run out of eggs could have children. Same-sex couples could have children genetically related to both partners. The technology could change everything.

Experts predict the technology could be ready for clinical use within 10 to 15 years.

Dr. Paulo Amato works at Oregon Health and Science University. He’s a reproductive endocrinologist. He also teaches obstetrics and gynecology in Portland. He co-authored and co-investigated the recent study.

Amato told Fox News Digital the discovery shows real promise.

“It is very preliminary work at this stage, but if it were to be successful, it would offer hope for couples and people suffering from infertility, particularly older women who have run out of eggs.”

But Amato warned about the risks. Even if the method works, carrying a pregnancy at an advanced age is dangerous.

“We still have to keep in mind that somebody has to carry that pregnancy. So, we’re not necessarily advocating for women in their 60s and 70s to be carrying pregnancies, but, theoretically, they could have a child that is genetically related. I would predict this to be in 10 to 15 years, at least.”

The procedure itself sounds complex. It begins with the nucleus of a skin cell. That nucleus contains the DNA.

Scientists remove that nucleus. They insert it into a donor egg. The donor egg has had its own nucleus stripped away.

The egg is then triggered to discard half of its chromosomes. They reduce from 46 to 23. This makes it compatible for fertilization with sperm.

Sperm adds the other 23 chromosomes.

If successful, the resulting embryo is genetically normal. It can be transferred into a uterus to begin pregnancy.

The technique could help women who’ve had cancer therapy. It could transform family planning for same-sex couples.

Amato explained how it works for same-sex couples.

“It would potentially allow for same-sex couples to have a child that’s genetically related to both partners. Usually, they have to use eggs from a donor. With this technology, we could use a skin cell from one partner to create an egg, fertilize it with sperm from the other and produce a baby genetically related to both.”

The technology isn’t ready yet. Significant problems remain.

Amato stressed the preliminary nature of the work.

“This is preliminary work, and there’s a lot we need to understand before it is ready. All the embryos we created were actually genetically abnormal, with too many or too few chromosomes. We have a lot of work to do.”

Every single embryo they created had genetic abnormalities. Some had too many chromosomes. Others had too few. None were normal.

That’s a major hurdle to overcome.

But the fact that they created embryos at all represents progress. The technique works in principle. Now researchers need to refine the process.

The implications extend far beyond infertility treatment. This technology challenges fundamental assumptions about human reproduction. It separates the ability to have genetic children from biological age and gender.

Women past menopause could become genetic mothers. Two men could have a child genetically related to both of them. The traditional boundaries of human reproduction are dissolving.

The ethical questions are enormous. Should there be age limits on who can use this technology? What about same-sex couples? Should this be available to everyone?

Scientists are focused on making the technology work. The ethical debates will come later.

For now, researchers continue their work. They’re trying to produce genetically normal embryos. Once they accomplish that, human trials could begin.

Within 10 to 15 years, this technology could be available in clinics. Couples struggling with infertility could have new options. Older women could have genetic children. Same-sex couples could both be biological parents.

The world of human reproduction is changing forever.