Live birth of twins after performing early hCG administration as a modification of natural cycle in vitro fertilization, in a women with decreased ovarian reserve

In vitro maturation (IVM) of human immature oocytes: is it still relevant?

In vitro maturation (IVM) of human immature oocytes has been shown to be a viable option for patients at risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), those seeking urgent fertility preservation and in circumstances where controlled ovarian stimulation is not feasible. Moreover, IVM techniques can be combined with ovarian tissue cryobanking to increase the chances of conception in cancer survivors. The clinical applications of IVM in the field of reproductive medicine are rapidly expanding and the technique is now classified as non-experimental. In contrast to conventional IVF (in vitro fertilization), IVM offers several advantages, such as reduced gonadotropin stimulation, minimal risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), reduced treatment times and lower costs. However, the technical expertise involved in performing IVM and its lower success rates compared to traditional IVF cycles, still pose significant challenges. Despite recent advances, such as innovative biphasic IVM systems, IVM is still an evolving technique and research is ongoing to refine protocols and identify techniques to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. A comprehensive understanding of the distinct mechanisms of oocyte maturation is crucial for obtaining more viable oocytes through in vitro methods, which will in turn lead to significantly improved success rates. In this review, the present state of human IVM programs and future research directions will be discussed, aiming to promote a better understanding of IVM and identify potential strategies to improve the overall efficiency and success rates of IVM programs, which will in turn lead to better clinical outcomes.

The live birth in a woman with resistant ovary syndrome after in vitro oocyte maturation and preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy

We report the pregnancy and live birth achieved after in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes and PGT-A in a 23-year-old patient suffering from ovarian gonadotropin resistance. A woman with resistant ovary syndrome (ROS) had secondary amenorrhea, high FSH levels (25.34 mIU/mL) and LH (29.6 mIU/mL), low estradiol levels (15.2 pg/mL), and high serum AMH levels (38.0 ng/mL), associated with an increased antral follicle count (AFC) of 45. Without gonadotropin priming and HCG trigger, ultrasound-guided transvaginal oocyte retrieval was performed. Aspiration of antral-stage follicles allowed the retrieval of 15 immature oocytes. After oocyte collection, immature oocytes were cultured in the IVM medium. Following IVM, six of them reached metaphase II stage. Resultant matured oocytes were fertilized by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Embryos obtained were cultured to the blastocyst stage. On day 5, three embryos reached blastocyst stage. Trophectoderm biopsy and PGT-A were performed on two better quality embryos on day 5 after fertilization. Two biopsied embryos were reported to be euploid. PGT-A was performed utilizing next-generation sequencing (NGS\MPS). One embryo was transferred in an artificial thaw cycle and resulted in a viable intrauterine pregnancy and live birth. Our experience indicates that there is no requirement for gonadotropin stimulation and use of b-hCG trigger prior to IVM in patients with ROS. The results suggest that oocytes obtained with IVM in patients with ROS are capable of meiotic and mitotic division, fertilization, and generation of euploid embryos. IVM appears to be a valuable approach in patients with ROS, allowing them to have genetically connected offspring.

Immature Oocyte for Fertility Preservation

In vitro maturation (IVM) of human immature oocytes has been offered to women who are at risk of developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) caused by gonadotropin stimulation, such as PCO(S) patients or who have poor ovarian reserve. Cryopreservation of oocytes matured in vivo obtained in IVF cycles has improved after implementing the vitrification method and many successful results have been reported. Now, this procedure can be successfully offered to fertility preservation programs for patients who are in danger of losing their ovarian function due to medical or social reasons, and to oocyte donation programs. This vitrification technique has also been applied to cryopreserve oocytes obtained from IVM program. Some advantages of oocytes vitrification related with IVM are: (1) eliminating costly drugs and frequent monitoring; (2) completing treatment within 2 to 10 days (3) avoiding the use of hormones in cancer patients with hormone-sensitive tumors; and (4) retrieving oocytes at any point in menstrual cycle, even in the luteal phase. In addition, immature oocytes can also be collected from extracorporeal ovarian biopsy specimens or ovaries during caesarian section. Theoretically, there are two possible approaches for preserving immature oocytes: oocyte cryopreservation at the mature stage (after IVM) and oocyte cryopreservation at the Germinal Vesicle (GV)-stage (before IVM). Both vitrification of immature oocyte before/after IVM is not currently satisfactory. Nevertheless, many IVF centers worldwide are doing IVM oocyte cryopreservation as one of the options to preserve fertility for female cancer. Therefore, more studies are urgently required to improve IVM- and vitrification method to successfully preserve oocytes collected from cancer patients. In this review, present oocyte maturation mechanisms and recent progress of human IVM cycles will be discussed first, followed by some studies of the vitrification of human IVM oocyte.

Early Short Stimulation Modified Natural Cycle IVF With GnRH Agonist Trigger and In Vitro Maturation in a Woman with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Case Report

BACKGROUND

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) triggering of final oocyte maturation has been used successfully in GnRH antagonist IVF cycles. It has not been used to date in cycles in which immature oocytes are matured in vitro.

CASE

We report here for the first time that GnRHa triggering in a variation on the modified natural IVF cycle can be used as a strategy in the treatment of infertility secondary to polycystic ovary syndrome. In this approach, follicles were stimulated with gonadotropins for three to five days when they were small, and triggering of ovulation occurred when the largest follicles were 10 to 12 mm in diameter. This was followed by retrieval of many immature oocytes that were matured in vitro and subsequently developed to form blastocysts that resulted in a live birth.

CONCLUSION

This is the first human evidence that GnRHa triggering of ovulation can be used successfully when the aim is in vitro maturation of oocytes.