A Comparison of in Vitro Maturation and in Vitro Fertilization for Women with Polycystic Ovaries

Objective: To establish the relative success of treatment by unstimulated in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes or stimulated in vitro fertilization (IVF) in women with polycystic ovaries undergoing assisted conception treatment.

Methods: The case-control study included 107 IVM and 107 IVF cycles matched for age and cause of infertility. In vitro maturation patients underwent transvaginal recovery of immature oocytes during an unstimulated cycle, in vitro oocyte maturation, and fertilization. Those in the IVF group underwent ovarian stimulation after pituitary suppression. Embryos were transferred in the same cycle in both groups. Main outcome measures included numbers of mature oocytes and embryos produced, and rates of implantation, pregnancy, live birth, and complications.

Results: In the IVM group after in vitro culture, 7.8 mature oocytes and 6.1 embryos were obtained per retrieval. With IVF, 12.0 mature oocytes (P <.01) and 9.3 embryos (P <.01) were obtained. The IVM pregnancy and live birth rates per retrieval were 26.2% and 15.9% compared with 38.3% and 26.2% for IVF (nonsignificant). The implantation rate of IVF-derived embryos was higher (17.1% versus 9.5%) than that for IVM (P <.01). There were 12 cases (11.2%) of moderate or severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in IVF patients, compared with none in the IVM group (P <.01).

Conclusion: Our results suggest that for women with polycystic ovaries who require assisted conception, IVM is a promising alternative to conventional IVF treatment.