Natural-cycle in vitro fertilization combined with in vitro maturation of immature oocytes is a potential approach in infertility treatment

Objective: To describe pregnancies and live births that resulted from IVF of mature oocytes retrieved from dominant follicles in a natural cycle combined with in vitro maturation (IVM) of immature oocytes retrieved from small follicles. Design: Case reports. Setting: McGill Reproductive Center, Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University. Patient(s): Three women with normal ovaries or polycystic ovaries who underwent infertility treatment. Intervention(s): Administration of SC hCG (10,000 IU) 36 hours before oocyte retrieval in a natural cycle. After aspiration of all follicles, mature oocytes were inseminated immediately; immature oocytes were matured in vitro, inseminated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and then the embryos transferred. Main Outcome Measure(s): Pregnancy and live birth. Result(s): Three pregnancies (two live births and one ongoing at time of writing) were achieved after the combination of natural-cycle IVF with IVM after transfer of the resulting embryos. Conclusion(s): Natural-cycle IVF combined with IVM might be a new approach to IVF treatment for women with various causes of infertility. (C)2004 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.