Newswise — Center for Reproductive Medicine (CRM) doctors and staff are celebrating the first birth in Florida resulting from In Vitro Maturation (IVM), an alternative for some patients to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) that costs less, is quicker and does not require the hormone injections associated with IVF.
CRM patient “Jane*” gave birth in December to a baby girl after one round of IVM treatment.
“Although this procedure is not as well known in this country, IVM is not experimental. It is an established approach that just hasn’t caught on yet in the U.S. the way it has in other countries like Canada,” said Dr. Gary W. DeVane, Center for Reproductive Medicine founder and developer of the first IVF program in Central Florida.
With IVM, patients undergo a procedure where immature eggs are retrieved and matured in the laboratory in only one or two days. The eggs are then fertilized with sperm, often using Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). After the eggs are fertilized, the embryos are grown in the laboratory for two to five days before being transferred to the mother’s womb.
Dr. DeVane said that for some patients, IVM is a viable alternative to IVF because it does not involve hormone injections to stimulate egg production, thereby avoiding a possible serious complication of IVF called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). OHSS can occur if the hormones injections over stimulate the ovaries and the ovaries become swollen, with fluid possibly leaking into the abdomen and chest.
Without the need for hormone injections, IVM also costs less than IVF. And because immature eggs are harvested, the procedure can be done more quickly than IVF, which requires several weeks to produce mature eggs.Patients considered the best candidates for IVM include:• Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, who are at significant risk of OHSS• Younger women (under 35) with normal menstrual cycles• Young women who have received cancer diagnoses and need fertility preservation prior to receiving chemotherapy
Dr. DeVane and CRM colleague Dr. Randall A. Loy decided to treat Jane, 37, with IVM because of her polycystic ovarian syndrome, which increased her risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Jane required only one round of IVM before becoming pregnant. She enjoyed an uneventful pregnancy and gave birth to a healthy baby girl on Dec. 2.
“Pregnancy rates for IVM are about 35-40 percent, which is slightly lower than IVF pregnancy rates,” said Dr. DeVane. “However, for the women who are good candidates for IVM, the procedure is a wonderful option to IVF, saving time and money and avoiding the possibility of ovarian overstimulation.”
About Center for Reproductive MedicineCenter for Reproductive Medicine (CRM) is the leading IVF and infertility center in Orlando and Central Florida since 1985. Combining decades of experience with state-of-the-art technology, CRM has achieved some of the highest pregnancy rates in the Southeast. CRM also is known for providing compassionate patient care, individualized treatment plans, and the most cost-efficient options, giving its patients every conceivable chance for success. CRM founder Dr. Gary W. DeVane developed the first IVF program in Central Florida and is a respected leader in the field of reproductive endocrinology. For more information, visit www.ivforlando.com.
*Name has been changed to preserve patient privacy.
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