What is IVM?

In vitro maturation is the process wherein a woman’s eggs are retrieved and matured outside the body. This is as part of the vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure. During IVF, the female is required to take stimulating medication that causes her to release more than the usual one egg per cycle, and these are then retrieved and fertilized with the sperm in the laboratory to achieve fertilization.

In some cases, the retrieved eggs are not matured enough for fertility and will be required to mature outside the body. In the years gone by this was not an option and thus, such eggs had to be discarded. However, advances in medical science now make it possible for the immature eggs to be matured in-vitro and make them ready for fertilization at a later stage.

Are women undergoing IVM required to take injectable medicines to induce ovulation?

Induction of ovulation remains the same with both IVF and IVM. Per se, there is no need for medication because each cycle a woman does release an egg. However, medication is to ensure that there are adequate eggs produced per cycle and therefore, there are more eggs available for fertilization. So yes, it is best advised to take stimulation medication for IVM.