IVM – In Vitro Maturation

In Vitro Maturation (IVM) is a suitable alternative to standard IVF for women who are younger than 36 years of age. It is also suitable to those women who have polycystic ovaries on ultrasound scan.

In IVM the hormone treatment of the women is eliminated or minimised and the eggs are matured in vitro in specially formulated IVM media. The subsequent insemination and fertilisation takes place in vitro as in conventional IVF or ICSI procedures.

Then the embryos are transferred to the womb a few days later. The egg collection is performed in a similar way as a standard IVF collection. Since minimal stimulation is required the need to buy and take daily gonadotropin injections is avoided. In addition, down-regulation is not usually required. A woman undergoing treatment for In Vitro Maturation has to attend the procedure for about one week only. So it has little or no impact on her daily life and she can go on with her life as usual.

This means that In Vitro Maturation is safer because there is no risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. It is also cheaper because there is no need to buy injectable drugs. Because fertility drugs are not necessarily required to complete this course of treatment. Plus the process is much quicker.

You can read more about the fertility treatments we offer on the treatment pages of this website. For more information or to make an appointment, get in touch with us via phone or email.