In Vitro Maturation: Help for Women with High FSH?
In Vitro Maturation (IVM) is an Assisted Reproduction Technique that involves retrieving eggs much earlier in the cycle than a traditional IVF. The eggs are then matured in the lab, fertilized and transferred. This article from the website of Dr. Randy S. Morris provides a great overview of the technique. The article also indicates, however, that in order to be a good candidate for IVM, a woman needs to have an excellent response to fertility medications – meaning low FSH and a high antral follicle count.
This article from CBS cites as their expert Dr. Joel Batzofin who emphasizes that one of the benefits of IVM is that less stimulation of the ovaries is necessary as compared to IVF.
The technique is new and the procedures are still being perfected. It seems that in the short term the technique will not be able to help women with high FSH but perhaps down the road fewer follicles will be required in order to have a reasonable success rate.
