Ovarian stimulation regimes may be hazardous to a small proportion of women or may result in side effects. For such women IVM is recommended. IVM technology can be divided into two main approaches, namely (i) FSH and (ii) hCG priming. These two approaches improve oocyte maturation and pregnancy rates when the immature oocytes are retrieved from women with PCOS. Although the size of follicles appears to be important for subsequent embryonic development however the developmental competence of oocytes derived from the small antral follicles seems not to be adversely affected by the presence of a dominant follicle. In general, the clinical pregnancy and implantation rates per ET are now in the order of 35–40% and 10–15% respectively in women with PCOS following IVM. The combination of natural cycle IVF with immature oocyte retrieval followed by IVM is an attractive treatment alternative for women with various forms of infertility without recourse to ovarian stimulation. Natural cycle IVF/M together with IVM alone can be used to treat more than half of the population of infertile patients with acceptable pregnancy rate. Approximately 2,000 healthy infants have been born following immature oocyte retrieval and IVM.
References
1.
Abdul JalilAKRezaeiNChungJT (2002) Effect of vitamins during oocyte maturation on subsequent embryonic development in vitro. 48th Ann Meeting CFAS:TP-24.
2.
BaeIHFooteRH. (1975) Utilization of glutamine for energy and protein synthesis by cultured rabbit follicular oocytes. Exp Cell Res90:432–436.
3.
BaerwaldARAdamsGPPiersonRA. (2003a) A new model for ovarian follicular development during the human menstrual cycle. Fertil Steril80:116–122.
4.
BaerwaldARAdamsGPPiersonRA. (2003b) Characterization of ovarian follicular wave dynamics in women. Biol Reprod69:1023–1031.
5.
BarnesFLCrombieAGardnerDK (1995) Blastocyst development and birth after in-vitro maturation of human primary oocytes, intracytoplasmic sperm injection and assisted hatching. Hum Reprod10:3243–3247.
6.
BarnesFLKauscheATigliasJ (1996) Production of embryos from in vitro matured primary human oocytes. Fertil Steril65:1151–1156.
7.
BavisterBD. (1995) Culture of preimplantation embryos: facts and artifacts. Hum Reprod Update1:91–148.
BiggersJDWhittinghamDGDonahueRP. (1967) The pattern of energy metabolism in the mouse oocyte and zygote. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA58:560–567.
10.
BiggersJDLawwittsJALecheneCP. (1993) The protective action of betaine on the deleterious effects of NaCl on preimplantation mouse embryos in vitro. Mol Reprod Dev34:380–390.
11.
CarminaELoboRA. (1999) Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): arguably the most common endocrinopathy is associated with significant morbidity in women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab84:1897–1899.
12.
CekleniakNACombellesCMHGanzDA (2001) A novel system for in vitro maturation of human oocytes. Fertil Steril75:1185–1193.
13.
ChaKYKooJJKoJJ (1991) Pregnancy after in vitro fertilization of human follicular oocytes collected from nonstimulated cycle, their culture in vitro and their transfer in a donor oocyte program. Fertil Steril55:109–113.
14.
ChaKYChianRC. (1998) Maturation in vitro of immature human oocytes for clinical use. Hum Reprod Update4:103–120.
15.
ChaKYHanSYChungHM (2000) Pregnancies and deliveries after in vitro maturation culture followed by in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer without stimulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril73:978–983.
16.
CheckMLBrittinghamDCheckJH (2001) Pregnancy following transfer of cryopreserved-thawed embryos that had been a result of fertilization of all in vitro matured metaphase or germinal stage oocytes. Case report. Clin Exp Obst Gyn28:69–70.
17.
ChianRCParkSEParkEH (1997) Molecular and structural characteristics between immature human oocytes retrieved from stimulated and unstimulated ovaries. In: GomelVLeungPCK, eds. In Vitro Fertilization and Assisted Reproduction. Monduzzi Editore; p 315–319.
18.
ChianRCBuckettWMTooLL (1999) Pregnancies resulting from in vitro matured oocytes retrieved from patients with polycystic ovary syndrome after priming with human chorionic gonadotropin. Fertil Steril72:639–642.
19.
ChianRCGulekliBBuckettWM (1999) Priming with human chorionic gonadotropin before retrieval of immature oocytes in women with infertility due to the polycystic ovary syndrome. N Eng J Med341:1624–1626.
20.
ChianRCBuckettWMTulandiT (2000) Prospective randomized study of human chorionic gonadotrophin priming before immature oocyte retrieval from unstimulated women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Hum Reprod15:165–170.
21.
ChianRCTanSL. (2002) Maturational and developmental competence of cumulus-free immature human oocytes derived from stimulated and intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles. RBM Online5:125–132.
22.
ChianRCChungJTDowneyBR (2002) Maturational and developmental competence of immature oocytes retrieved from bovine ovaries at different phases of folliculogenesis. RBMOnline4:129–134.
23.
ChianRCLimJHTanSL. (2004) State of the art in in-vitro oocyte maturation. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol16:211–219.
24.
ChianRCBuckettWMAbdul JalilAK (2004) Natural-cycle in vitro fertilization combined with in vitro maturation of immature oocytes is a potential approach in infertility treatment. Fertil Steril82:1675–1678.
25.
ChungJTTanSLChianRC. (2002) Effect of glucose on bovine oocyte maturation and subsequent fertilization and early embryonic development in vitro. Biol Reprod66(Suppl): 177.
26.
DownsSM. (1995) The influence of glucose, cumulus cells, and metabolic coupling on ATP levels and meiotic control in the isolated mouse oocyte. Dev Biol167:502–512.
27.
DownsSMDanielSAJBornslaegerEA (1989) Maintenance of meiotic arrest in mouse oocytes by purines: Modulation of camp levels and camp phosphodiesterase activity. Gamete Res23:323–334.
28.
DuckittKTempletonAA. (1998) Cancer in women with infertility. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol10:199–203.
29.
EdwardsRG. (1965) Maturation in vitro of human ovarian oocytes. Lancet286:926–929.
30.
EdwardsRGBavisterBDSteptoePC. (1969) Early stages of fertilization in vitro of human oocytes matured in vitro. Nature221:632–635.
31.
EdwardsLJWilliamsDAGardnerDK. (1998) Intracellular pH of the mouse preimplantation embryo: amino acids act as buffers of intracellular pH. Hum Reprod13:344–348.
32.
EdirisingheWRJunkSMMatsonPL (1997) Birth from cryopreserved embryos following in-vitro maturation of oocytes and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Hum Reprod12:1056–1058.
33.
FahyMMKaneMT. (1992) Inositol stimulates DNA and protein synthesis, and expansion by rabbit blastocysts in vitro. Hum Reprod7:550–552.
34.
GardnerDKLaneMSpitzerA (1994) Enhanced rates of cleavage and development for sheep zygotes cultured to the blastocyst stage in vitro in the absence of serum and somatic cells: amino acids, vitamins, and culturing embryos in groups stimulate development. Biol Reprod50:390–400.
35.
GandolfiFMilanesiEPocarP (1998) Comparative analysis of calf and cow oocytes during in vitro maturation. Mol Reprod Dev49:168–175.
36.
GeshiMTakenouchiNYamauchiN (2000) Effects of sodium pyruvate in nonserum maturation medium on maturation, fertilization, and subsequent development of bovine oocytes with or without cumulus cells. Biol Reprod63:1730–1734.
37.
GwatkinRBLHaidriAA. (1973) Requirements for the maturation of hamster oocytes in vitro. Exp Cell Res76:1–7.
38.
HaekwonKSchuetzAW. (1991) Regulation of nuclear membrane assembly and maintenance during in vitro maturation of mouse oocytes: role of pyruvate and protein synthesis. Cell Tissue Res265:105–112.
39.
HillierSG. (1994) Current concepts of the role of FSH and LH in folliculogenesis. Hum Reprod9:188–191.
40.
HreinssonJRosenlundBFridenB (2003). Recombinant LH is equally effective as recombinant hCG in promoting oocyte maturation in a clinical in-vitro maturation programme: a randomized study. Hum Reprod18:2131–2136.
41.
HwangJLLinYHTsaiYL (2002) Oocyte donation using immature oocytes from a normal ovulatory woman. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand81:274–275.
42.
JanssensRMLambalkCBVermeidenJP (2000) In-vitro fertilization in a spontaneous cycle: easy, cheap and realistic. Hum Reprod15:314–318.
43.
JonesHWJrJonesGSAndrewsMC (1982) The program for in vitro fertilization at Norfolk. Fertil Steril38:14–21.
44.
JohnstonILopataASpeirA (1981) In vitro fertilization: the challenge of the eighties. Fertil Steril36:699–708.
45.
KaHHSawaiKWangWH (1997) Amino acids in maturation medium and presence of cumulus cells at fertilization promote male pronuclear formation in porcine oocytes matured and penetrated in vitro. Biol Reprod57:1478–1483.
46.
KaneMTBavisterBD. (1988) Vitamins requirements for development of eight-cell hamster embryos to hatching blastocysts in vitro. Biol Reprod39:1137–1143.
47.
KrisherRLBavisterBD. (1999) Enhanced glycolysis after maturation of bovine oocytes in vitro is associated with increased developmental competence. Mol Reprod Dev53:19–26.
48.
LaneMGardnerDK. (1998) Amino acids and vitamins prevent culture-induced metabolic perturbations and associated loss of viability of mouse blastocysts. Hum Reprod13:991–997.
49.
LeeseHJBartonAM. (1984) Pyruvate and glucose uptake by mouse ova and preimplantational embryos. J Reprod Fertil72:9–13.
50.
LeeseHJBartonAM. (1985) Production of pyruvate by isolated mouse cumulus cells. J Exp Zool234:231–36.
51.
LimJHYangSHChianRC. (2007) New alternative to infertility treatment for women without ovarian stimulation. RBMOnline14:547–549.
52.
LimJHYangSHXuY (2009) Selection of patients for natural cycle in vitro fertilization combined with in vitro maturation of immature oocytes. Fertil Steril91:1050–1055.
53.
LinYHHwangJHHuangLW (2003) Combination of FSH priming and hCG priming for in-vitro maturation of human oocytes. Hum Reprod18:1632–1636.
54.
LiuJKatzEGarciaJE (1997) Successful in vitro maturation of human oocytes not exposed to human chorionic gonadotropin during ovulation induction, resulting in pregnancy. Fertil Steril67:566–568.
55.
LopataABrownJBLeetonJF (1978) In vitro fertilization of preovulatory oocytes and embryo transfer in infertile patients treated with clomiphene and human chorionic gonadotropin. Fertil Steril30:27–35.
56.
MacDougallMJTanSLHallV (1994) Comparison of natural with clomiphene citrate-stimulated cycles in in-vitro fertilization: a prospective, randomized trial. Fertil Steril61:1052–1057.
57.
MikkelsenALSmithSDLindenbergS. (1999) In-vitro maturation of human oocytes from regularly menstruating women may be successful without follicle stimulating hormone priming. Hum Reprod14:1847–1851.
58.
MikkelsenALLindenbergS. (2001) Benefit of FSH priming of women with PCOS to the in vitro maturation procedure and the outcome: a randomized prospective study. Reproduction122:587–592.
59.
MikkelsenALHostEBlaabjergJ (2003) Time interval between FSH priming and aspiration of immature human oocytes for in-vitro maturation: a prospective randomized study. RBMOnline16:416–420.
60.
MouatassimSELHazoutABellecV (1999) Glucose metabolism during the final stage of human oocyte maturation: genetic expression of hexokinase, glucose phosphate isomerase and phosphofructokinase. Zygote7:45–50.
61.
NagleFSatorMOJuzaJ (2002) Successful pregnancy resulting from in-vitro matured oocytes retrieved at laparoscopic surgery in a patient with polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Reprod17:373–374.
62.
NagyZPCecileJLiuJ (1996) Pregnancy and birth after intracytoplasmic sperm injection of in vitro matured germinal-vesicle stage oocytes: case report. Fertil Steril65:1047–1050.
63.
Ocana-QueroJMPinedo-MerlinMOrtega-MariscalE (1998) Infuence of human and bovine insulin on in vitro maturation, fertilization and cleavage rates of bovine oocytes. Arch Zootec47:85–93.
64.
PincusGEnzmannEV. (1935) The comparative behaviours of mammalian eggs in vitro and in vivo. II. The activation of tubal eggs in the rabbit. J Exp Med., 62:665–675.
65.
PincusGSaundersB. (1939): The comparative behaviours of mammalian eggs in vitro and in vivo. VI. The maturation of human ovarian ova. Anat Record75:537.
66.
ReedMLEstradaJLIlleraMJ (1993) Effects of epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-1, and diolyzed porcine follicular fluid on porcine oocyte maturation in vitro. J Exp Zool266:74–78.
67.
RezaeiNAbdul-JalilAKChungJT (2003) Role of essential and non-essential amino acids contained in maturation medium on bovine oocyte maturation and subsequent fertilization and early embryonic development in vitro. Theriogenology59:497.
68.
RezaeiNChianRC. (2005) Effects of essential and non-essential amino acids on in-vitro maturation, fertilization and development of immature bovine oocytes. Iranian J Reprod Med3:36–41.
69.
Rose-HellekantTALibersky-WilliamsonEABavisterBD (1998) Energy substrates and amino acids provided during in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes alter acquisition of developmental competence. Zygote6:285–294.
70.
SmithLCOlivera-AngelMGroomeNP (1996) Oocyte quality in small antral follicles in the presence or absence of a large dominant follicle in cattle. J Reprod Fertil106:193–199.
71.
SmitsGOlatunbosunODelbaereA (2003) Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome due to a mutation in the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor. N Eng J Med349:760–766.
72.
SonWYYoonSHLeeSW (2002) Blastocyst development and pregnancies after IVF of mature oocytes retrieved from unstimulated patients with PCOS after in-vivo hCG priming. Hum Reprod17:134–136.
73.
SteptoePCEdwardsEG. (1978) Successful birth after IVF. Lancet312:366.
74.
SuikkariAMTulppalaMTuuriT (2000) Luteal phase start of low-dose FSH of follicles results in an efficient recovery, maturation and fertilization of immature human oocytes. Hum Reprod15:747–751.
75.
TarlatzisBCGrimbizisGBontisJ (1995) Ovarian stimulation and and ovarian tumours: a critical reappraisal. Hum Reprod Update1:284–301.
TrounsonAWoodCKauscheA. (1994) In vitro maturation and the fertilization and developmental competence of oocytes recovered from untreated polycystic ovarian patients. Fertil Steril62:353–362.
VeeckLLWorthamJWJr. (1983). Maturation and fertilization of morphologically immature human oocytes in a program of in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril39:594–602.
80.
WuGMorrisSMJr. (1998) Arginine metabolism: nitric oxide and beyond. Biochem J336:1–17.
81.
WynnPPictonHMKrapezJ (1998) Pretreatment with follicle stimulating hormone promotes the number of human oocytes reaching metaphase II by in vitro maturation. Hum Reprod13:3132–3138.
82.
YangSSonWLeeS (2001) Expression of luteinizing hormone receptor (LH-R), follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSH) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) in cumulus cells of the oocytes collected from PCOS patients in hCG-priming IVM/F-ET program. Fertil Steril76(Suppl):S38–O-100.
83.
ZhengPWangHBavisterBD (2001) Maturation of rhesus monkey oocytes in chemically defined culture media and their functional assessment by IVF and embryo development. Hum Reprod16:300–305.
