IVM - In Vitro Maturation

In Vitro Maturation (IVM) is the variant of IVF whereby developing eggs are harvested not as mature oocytes (metaphase II) but as immature eggs at an earlier stage of development. The immature eggs are then grown in the laboratory until they mature to follow the same processes of standard IVF. Currently, IVM is indicated for infertile couples with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) where the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is increased during the stage of ‘controlled’ ovarian stimulation. In such cases therefore, IVM presents as an alternative to standard IVF to avoid this dreaded complication. At the same time, it presents a cheaper alternative as less medication is used to prepare the developing eggs.

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