In Vitro Oocyte Maturation: An Advance in Assisted Reproduction, is it for me?

In vitro oocyte maturation (IVM) is an assisted reproduction technique that is gaining popularity for its innovative approach and unique benefits. If you're looking for options to start a family, this technique may offer you an alternative solution, especially if you have certain medical conditions that might make other treatments less recommended.

What is an oocyte?

First, it's important to understand what an oocyte is. The oocyte is the female reproductive cell that, when fertilized by a sperm cell, gives rise to an embryo. Normally, oocytes mature in the ovaries during the menstrual cycle and are ready to be fertilized after ovulation.

What is in vitro oocyte maturation?

Unlike conventional fertility treatments, where oocytes are allowed to mature inside the body before being collected, the in vitro maturation technique allows oocytes to be captured while they are still immature. These immature oocytes are extracted from the ovaries and matured in the laboratory, rather than waiting for them to mature naturally inside your body.

Once oocytes have reached maturity in the laboratory, they can be fertilized using techniques such as ICSI to fertilize these eggs, and then transfer the resulting embryos to your uterus.

When is in vitro maturation recommended?

IVM can be especially useful in the following cases:

1. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): This condition affects oocyte maturation and can lead to complications if conventional ovarian stimulation methods are used.
2. Risk of ovarian hyperstimulation: Some fertility treatments stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs, but in some women this can cause an overreaction known as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHS), which can be dangerous. IVM significantly reduces this risk.
3. Cancer patients: Women who are being treated for cancer, especially if the cancer is hormone dependent, may benefit from MIV, as it minimizes exposure to high doses of hormones that could negatively affect their health.

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Benefits of MIV

One of the biggest benefits of in vitro maturation is that it doesn't require as much hormonal medication as other fertility treatments. This may be safer for some women and reduces the cost of treatment. In addition, as oocytes mature outside the body, the process is better controlled, which can be an advantage in cases where the ovaries do not respond well to traditional stimulation.

How is the process?

The MIV process is quite simple, here's how it works:

1. We remove immature oocytes from your ovaries using a medical procedure.
2. We take your oocytes to the laboratory where we place them in an environment suitable for maturation.
3. Once your eggs have reached maturity, they can be fertilized with your partner's or donor's sperm.
4. The embryos we have obtained are transferred to your uterus, as in other assisted reproduction treatments.

Is the MIV right for you?

IVM isn't the first option in every case, but for certain women it can be an excellent alternative to traditional fertility treatments. If you have oocyte maturation problems, PCOS, or are concerned about hormonal stimulation, IVM may offer you a safe and effective way to try to get pregnant.

If you are interested in learning more about in vitro oocyte maturation or any other fertility treatment, send us a message through our WhatsApp or by signing up for a specialist to contact you. We're here to guide you every step of this exciting journey to motherhood.

Written by the Dr. Guadalupe Nolazco

Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18616892/ , https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1986950/ , https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S147264831060168X , https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20637351/ 

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