Hat die in-vitro-maturation eine zukunft?

Recent increases in knowledge in reproductive medicine have led to the development of a wide range of methods of assisted reproduction (ART) that can be applied in various infertility situations. Ovarian hyperstimulation with gonadotrophins represents a standardized and highly efficient treatment option to induce polyfollicular development for obtaining numerous oocytes in order to guarantee acceptable pregnancy rates. However, this technique is associated with side effects and disadvantages which has motivated a search for new solutions for infertility treatment. The concept of in-vitro maturation (IM) aims at aspirating immature cumulus-enclosed oocytes at the germinal vesicle stage (GV) from small antral follicles in order to support maturation from the GV stage to the fertilizable metaphase 2 stage (M2) in vitro. At present IVM represents a simple and cost-effective technique and preliminary data suggest that IVM appears to be a safe method. As the development time of clinical IVM is relatively short and pregnancy rates are generally lower, this technique still cannot be equally compared to conventional IVF treatment. However, IVM possesses a great developmental potential for the future.