What is the Difference Between IVM and IVF?

🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚

In Vitro Maturation (IVM) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) are both fertility treatments, but they differ in several aspects:

  1. Egg maturation: In IVF, the woman's eggs are matured in the ovaries, while in IVM, the eggs are collected and matured outside the body.
  2. Hormonal injections: IVF requires women to undergo multiple hormonal injections during the egg retrieval process to encourage egg maturation while the eggs are still in the ovaries. In contrast, the IVM procedure matures the eggs after they have been retrieved, making the hormonal injections unnecessary.
  3. Success rates: IVM may have lower success rates compared to traditional IVF, particularly for women who ovulate normally. However, it may be a suitable method for certain groups of women, such as those with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  4. Pregnancy outcomes: The obstetric and perinatal outcomes of IVM cycles are comparable to those of IVF/ICSI cycles.
  5. Advantages of IVM: Compared to IVF, IVM has several advantages, including no (or minimal) controlled ovarian stimulation, improved convenience, and lower monitoring burden.

In summary, IVM and IVF are both fertility treatments, but they differ in the way eggs are matured and the hormonal injections required. While IVF has higher success rates, IVM may be a suitable alternative for certain groups of women and offers some advantages over traditional IVF.

Comparative Table: IVM vs IVF

In vitro maturation (IVM) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) are two assisted reproductive technologies that help couples with fertility issues conceive. Here is a table comparing the differences between IVM and IVF:

Feature IVM IVF
Ovarian Stimulation No or minimal ovarian hormonal stimulation Ovaries are hyperstimulated with large doses of hormones
Egg Retrieval Small follicles (2-10 mm in diameter) are removed Eggs are collected from stimulated ovaries
Fertilization Eggs matured with IVM cannot be cultured with sperm; each individual egg is injected with sperm in a fertilization technique Eggs and sperm are combined in a laboratory dish, and fertilization occurs
Live Birth Rate Lower live birth rate compared to IVF Higher live birth rate compared to IVM
Miscarriage Rate No significant difference between IVM and IVF groups No significant difference between IVM and IVF groups
Clinical Pregnancy Rate No significant difference between IVM and IVF groups No significant difference between IVM and IVF groups
Maturity Rate Lower maturity rate compared to IVF Higher maturity rate compared to IVM
Average Fertilization Rate Lower average fertilization rate compared to IVF Higher average fertilization rate compared to IVM
Cost Less expensive than IVF More expensive than IVM

IVM is a minimally invasive technique that has several advantages over IVF, such as no or minimal controlled ovarian stimulation, improved convenience, and lower monitoring burden. However, it has a lower live birth rate compared to IVF.