Ovarian germ-line-competent embryonic stem cells (GLC-ESC) are cultured, either in the presence or absence of a compound having estrogenic activity. The GLC-ESC are either collected prior to specific commitment or are permitted to remain in the culture medium for a time sufficient to develop into oocytes, and the oocytes may be fertilized by adding sperm to the culture medium. The fertilized oocytes may be permitted to develop into embryos, which may be transferred into the uterus of an adult human female or frozen for later use. The invention provides a method for obtaining by in vitro fertilization an embryo that is genetically related to a human female who is not producing oocytes.
