The first baby conceived by IVM has arrived! No, that’s not a typo – it really is I.V.M. full title, ‘In Vitro Maturation.’ an exciting new fertility concept. Pioneered at California’s Marin Fertility Centre, it gives hope to couples struggling with infertility. Dr Peter Uzeloc, reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist, announced the good news, saying, ‘We are so excited to have this alternative to conventional IVF available to our patients. In this age of personalized medicine IVM answers a call for those desiring something different.’

What is IVM?

IVM is a clever, newly developed alternative to traditional IVF. Eggs are removed from the intending mother’s ovaries. Sounds like IVF? In IVM eggs are extracted way before they ripen – at a very early stage of their maturing process. They’re taken off to grow to maturity in the laboratory, under the careful eye of the embryologist. When ready, the fully matured eggs are taken off to get fertilized. Implantation of the blastocyst/embryo into the womb proceeds – just like in regular IVF.

Advantages of IVM

IVM makes IVF a lot easier for women. It offers:

• a virtually drug-free cycle.  No giant med pack – no injections! Why? If her eggs are already growing in perfect lab conditions, the mum-to-be is free to get on with life free from the barrage of hormones required to stimulate her ovaries. This protects her from potential side effects of fertility drugs, ranging from bloating, pain and mood swings to the more dangerous Ovary Hyperstimulation Syndrome – OHSS.
•  reduced cost to the patient. Eggs mature in the lab so the fertility drug bills, accounting for one-fifth total price of IVF, are negligible.
• fewer scheduled visits to the clinic are required. No vaginal-probe scans needed to track egg development.
•  help for women who suffer from – PCOS – that’s polycystic ovaries. They have lots of underdeveloped eggs within their ovaries each month ,  so now they can have those eggs removed, to be fully matured in the lab.
•  women with endometriosis  – which is exacerbated by fertility drugs – a way to avoid having to take medications.
• allows those with a proven sensitivity to hormones a way to remain drug-free
• professional women minimal invasion from drug side effects and fewer clinic visits.

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These posts may interest you, too:

PCOS – Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome & Infertility

How Endometriosis leads to Infertility