Through the innovative technology of In Vitro Maturation (IVM) in conjunction with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), our doctors are able to collect and use a woman’s immature eggs. We call this IVF/M or in vitro fertilization with maturation. IVM technology increases a woman’s chances of using at least some of her immature eggs for fertilization.
HOW IN VITRO MATURATION WORKS
After the woman’s immature eggs are surgically retrieved, they are placed in a petri dish containing a special maturation medium in New Hope Fertility Center’s New York state-of-the-art IVF lab. Then, the eggs are carefully monitored as they fully mature outside of the woman’s body. Each individual egg is injected with a single sperm in a fertilization technique known as Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). The resulting embryos are cultured for several more days until they have developed into a viable stage for transfer. Only the highest quality embryos are selected for fresh IVF transfer or cryopreservation.
CANDIDATES FOR IN VITRO MATURATION
The best candidates for IVM are:
- Women with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)
- Cancer patients who may be sensitive to hormone therapy
- Patients who want to reduce the risk of over-stimulating (OHSS)
- Young women who are able to produce a large number of egg follicles (15+) through fertility drug stimulation
- Young women who have a history of producing a large number of egg follicles (15+) in a prior IVF attempt due to hyperstimulation syndrome
- Women having an acceptable anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) level
- Women who are at a healthy weight (BMI) – not obese
IN VITRO MATURATION PREGNANCY SUCCESS RESULTS
Women under the age of 30 have the greatest likelihood of producing multiple egg follicles to be retrieved before maturity. For these women, IVM in conjunction with IVF may be effective.
As with all infertility treatment protocols, pregnancy success rates are lower for woman in their advanced maternal years (over 35). These women are not good candidates for IVM in conjunction with IVF because of a lower rate of fertility. However, this doesn’t discount everyone, so please ask your fertility doctor if IVF with IVM might be right for you.