Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

In-vitro maturation of human oocytes: before or after vitrification?

  • Fertility Preservation
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to determine if in-vitro maturation (IVM) of human immature oocytes should be performed before or after vitrification.

Methods

A total of 184 immature oocytes were randomly divided into two different groups: 100 were vitrified at metaphase II (MII) stage 24 h-48 h after IVM (group 1) and 84 were immediately vitrified at germinal vesicle (GV) or metaphase I (MI) stages and in vitro matured after warming (group 2).

Results

Survival rate after warming was similar in both groups (86.9% versus 84.5%). However, oocyte maturation rate per collected oocyte was significantly higher for oocytes matured before vitrification (group 1, 46%) than for oocytes vitrified before IVM (group 2, 23.8%) (p < 0.01). Consequently, the number of MII oocytes inseminated per oocyte collected was significantly higher for group 1 (40%) than for group 2 (23.8%) (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

IVM procedure is more efficient when it is performed before oocyte vitrification.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Huang JY, Chian RC, Gilbert L, Fleiszer D, Holzer H, Dermitas E, Elizur SE, Gidoni Y, Levin D, Son WY, Tan SL. Retrieval of immature oocytes from unstimulated ovaries followed by in vitro maturation and vitrification: a novel strategy of fertility preservation for breast cancer patients. Am J Surg. 2010;200:177–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Isachenko E, Rahimi G, Isachenko V, Nawroth F. In-vitro maturation of germinal-vesicle oocytes and cryopreservation in metaphase I/II: a possible additional option to preserve fertility during ovarian tissue cryopreservation. Reprod Biomed Online. 2004;8:553–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Chian RC, Lim JH, Tan SL. State of the art in in-vitro oocyte maturation. Curr Opin Ostet Gynecol. 2004;6:211–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Cao Y, Chian RC. Fertility preservation with immature and in vitro matured oocytes. Semin Reprod Med. 2009;27:456–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Wei Z, Cao Y, Cong L, Zhou P, Zhang Z, Li J. Effect of metformin pre-treatment on pregnancy outcome of in vitro matured oocytes retrieved from women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. 2008;90:1149–54.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Demeestere I, Simon P, Emiliani S, Delbaere A, Englert Y. Orthotopic and heterotopic ovarian tissue transplantation. Human Reprod Update. 2009;15:649–65.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Jurema MW, Nogueira D. In vitro maturation of human oocytes for assisted reproduction. Fertil Steril. 2006;86:1277–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Edwards RG. IVF, IVM, natural cycle IVF, minimal stimulation IVF—time for a rethink. Reprod Biomed Online. 2007;15:106–19.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Benkhalifa M, Demirol A, Ménézo Y, Balashova E, Abduljlil AK, Giakoumakis I, Gurgan T. Natural cycle IVF and oocyte in-vitro maturation in polycystic ovary syndrome: a collaborative prospective study. Reprod Biomed Online. 2009;18:29–36.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Oktay K, Cil AP, Bang H. Efficiency of oocyte cryopreservation: a meta-analysis. Fertil Steril. 2006;86:70–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kuwayama M, Vajta G, Kato O, Leibo SP. Highly efficient vitrification method for cryopreservation of human oocytes. Reprod Biomed Online. 2005;11:300–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Chian RC, Huang JY, Tan SL, Lucena E, Saa A, Rojas A, Ruvalcaba Castellón LA, García Amador MI, Montoya Sarmiento JE. Obstetric and perinatal outcome in 200 infants conceived from vitrified oocytes. Reprod Biomed Online. 2008;16:608–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Cobo A, Vajta G, Remohí J. Vitrification of human mature oocytes in clinical practice. Reprod Biomed Online. 2009;19 Suppl 4:4385.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Nagy ZP, Chang CC, Shapiro DB, Bernal DP, Kort HI, Vajta G. The efficacy and safety of human oocyte vitrification. Semin Reprod Med. 2009;27:450–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Tao T, Zhang W, Del Valle A. Human oocyte cryopreservation. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2009;21:247–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Fasano G, Vannin AS, Biramane J, Delbaere A, Englert Y. Cryopreservation of human failed maturation oocytes shows that vitrification gives superior outcomes to slow cooling. Cryobiology. 2010;61:243–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Devreker F, Pogonici E, De Maertelaer V, Revelard P, Van den Bergh M, Englert Y. Selection of good embryos for transfer depends on embryo cohort size: implications for the ‘mild ovarian stimulation’ debate. Human Reprod. 1999;14:3002–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Chian RC, Gilbert L, Huang JY, Demirtas E, Holzer H, Benjamin A, Buckett WM, Tulandi T, Tan SL. Live birth after vitrification of in vitro matured human oocytes. Fertil Steril. 2009;91:372–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Gougeon A. Human ovarian follicular development: from activation of resting follicles to preovulatory maturation. Ann Endocrinol. 2010;71:132–43.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Son W, Chung JT, Chian RC, Herrero B, Demirtas E, Elizur S, Gidoni Y, Sylvestre C, Dean N, Tan SL. A 38 h interval between hCG priming and oocyte retrieval increases in vivo and in vitro oocyte maturation rate in programmed IVM cycles. Human Reprod. 2008;23:2010–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Son WY, Tan SL. Laboratory and embryological aspects of hCG-primed in vitro maturation cycles for patients with polycystic ovaries. Human Reprod Update. 2010;16:675–89.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Chian RC. In-vitro maturation of immature oocytes for infertile women with PCOS. Reprod Biomed Online. 2004;8:547–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Papanikolaou EG, Platteau P, Albano C, Nogueira D, Cortvrindt R, Devroey P, Smitz J. Immature oocyte in-vitro maturation: clinical aspects. Reprod Biomed Online. 2005;10:587–92.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Le Du A, Kadoch IJ, Bourcigaux N, Doumerc S, Bourrier MC, Chevalier N, Fanchin R, Chian RC, Tachdjian G, Frydman R, Frydman N. In vitro oocyte maturation for the treatment of infertility associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome: the French experience. Human Reprod. 2005;20:420–4.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Lornage J. In vitro maturation: the French experience. J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod. 2006;35 Suppl 2:3–7.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Albuz FK, Sasseville M, Lane M, Armstrong DT, Thompson JG, Gilchrist RB. Simulated physiological oocyte maturation (SPOM): a novel in vitro maturation system that substantially improves embryo yield and pregnancy outcomes. Human Reproduction. 2010;25:2999–3011.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Son WY, Park SE, Lee KA, Lee WS, Ko JJ, Yoon TK, Cha KY. Effects of 1,2-propanediol and freezing-thawing on the in vitro developmental capacity of human immature oocytes. Fertil Steril. 1996;66:995–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Wininger JD, Kort HI. Cryopreservation of immature and mature human oocytes. Semin Reprod Med. 2002;20:45–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Coticchio G, Bonu MA, Borini A, Flamigni C. Oocyte cryopreservation: a biological perspective. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2004;115 Suppl 1:2–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Cao Y, Xing Q, Zhang ZG, Wei ZL, Zhou P, Cong L. Cryopreservation of immature and in-vitro matured human oocytes by vitrification. Reprod Biomed Online. 2009;19:369–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Asimakopoulos B, Kotanidis L, Nikolettos N. In vitro maturation and fertilization of vitrified immature human oocytes, subsequent vitrification of produced embryos, and embryo transfer after thawing. Fertil Steril. 2011;95:2123.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Z. Zhang, Y. Liu, Q. Xing, P. Zhou, Y. Cao, Cryopreservation of human failed-matured oocytes followed by in vitro maturation: vitrification is superior to the slow freezing method. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology (2011) in press.

  33. Versieren K, Heindryckx B, O'Leary T, De Croo I, Van den Abbeel E, Gerris J, De Sutter P. Slow controlled-rate freezing of human in vitro matured oocytes: effects on maturation rate and kinetics and parthenogenetic activation. Fertil Steril. 2011;96:624–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. S.L. McElroy, J.A. Byrne, S.L. Chavez, B. Behr, A.J. Hsueh, L.M. Westphal, R.A. Pera,. Parthenogenetic blastocysts derived from cumulus-free in vitro matured human oocytes. PLoS One (5)2010 e10979.

  35. Reichman DE, Politch J, Ginsburg ES, Racowsky C. Extended in vitro maturation of immature oocytes from stimulated cycles: an analysis of fertilization potential, embryo development, and reproductive outcomes. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2010;27:347–56.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The study was supported by an unconditional grant from the Fonds National Recherche Scientifique (FNRS) of Belgium, and an unconditional grant from Merck Pharmaceuticals.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Laboratory on Human Reproduction, Medicine Faculty, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgium, Campus Erasme, Brussels, Belgium

    Giovanna Fasano, Isabelle Demeestere & Yvon Englert

  2. Fertility Clinic, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasme Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Belgium, Route de Lennik 808, Brussels, 1070, Belgium

    Giovanna Fasano

Authors
  1. Giovanna Fasano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Isabelle Demeestere
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yvon Englert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giovanna Fasano.

Additional information

Capsule

The adequate timing for in vitro maturation was evaluated by comparing maturation and survival rates of oocyte vitrified before or after the procedure.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fasano, G., Demeestere, I. & Englert, Y. In-vitro maturation of human oocytes: before or after vitrification?. J Assist Reprod Genet 29, 507–512 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9751-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-012-9751-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation