Pregnancy without sperm is called parthenogenesis.
Understanding Parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis is a natural form of asexual reproduction in which an egg develops into an embryo without fertilization by sperm. This process occurs in some species, but it's rare in humans. While there have been reported cases suggesting the possibility of human parthenogenesis, scientific consensus considers it highly unlikely to result in a viable pregnancy. [^1] Many references discuss infertility in the context of lack of sperm and failure to conceive rather than parthenogenesis as a viable path to pregnancy.[^2, ^3, ^4, ^5, ^6, ^7]
The provided text mentions various aspects of reproduction and infertility, including male infertility, sperm analysis, and assisted reproductive technologies like in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).[^2, ^3, ^4, ^5, ^6, ^7, ^8] These highlight the critical role of sperm in typical human conception. However, these sources do not directly contradict the possibility of parthenogenesis in very rare instances, though they do not explicitly support it in humans either. [^9]
One source mentions pre-ejaculate, which contains some sperm, but in negligible amounts compared to ejaculation. Even with pre-ejaculate, a sperm is still required for fertilization.[^10]
Another article discusses vasectomy, a permanent form of male birth control that prevents the transportation of sperm. This is further evidence of the necessity of sperm for typical human fertilization.[^11]
[^1]: Virgin Births From Parthenogenesis: How Females From Some Species Can Reproduce Without Males. https://umbc.edu/stories/virgin-births-from-parthenogenesis-how-females-from-some-species-can-reproduce-without-males/
[^2]: Male Infertility: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment - Urology Care ... https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/m/male-infertility
[^3]: Can You Get Pregnant From Pre-Ejaculate? (for Teens) | Nemours ... https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/ejaculate.html
[^4]: Low sperm count - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/low-sperm-count/symptoms-causes/syc-20374585
[^5]: Semen Analysis: MedlinePlus Medical Test https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/semen-analysis/
[^6]: Azoospermia (Zero Sperm Count): Causes & Treatment https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15441-azoospermia
[^7]: In vitro fertilization (IVF): MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007279.htm
[^8]: 3 Ways To Get Pregnant Without a Man https://www.medicinenet.com/3_ways_to_get_pregnant_without_a_man/article.htm
[^9]: A new hypothesis may explain human parthenogenesis and ovarian ... https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10227352/
[^10]: Can You Get Pregnant From Pre-Ejaculate? (for Teens) | Nemours ... https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/ejaculate.html
[^11]: Vasectomy | Johns Hopkins Medicine https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/vasectomy
